Our first communication experiences are with our immediate family. Relationships with our family members are the most crucial for us to maintain and among the most difficult. Sharing a living space means tension and conflict regardless of the people who occupy it. Conflict can be addressed in several ways, each of which has pros and cons. It is important to remember that conflict styles and communication climates can change within a group. I say this because they have changed very provocatively within my family in recent years. My family had dysfunctional ways of dealing with conflict and these led me to adapt different approaches to conflict. I am the eldest child in a family of four by a significant margin. Due to the significant age difference, my experience was very different from that of my siblings. While I lived there, the competitive conflict style was dominant in our family. The general climate of communication was defensive and disconfirming. My parents had an authoritarian parenting style, but their rules were generally fair, so my siblings and I worried. But when I saw a rule or decision as unfair, conflict arose. My parents believed that being the guardian was all the justification they needed for anything. There were no problems with this when I was younger, but as I got older I questioned the reasons behind the rules and decisions I had to live by. In high school I wouldn't follow their instructions if I didn't see them as justified. If I asked why I had to do something and I got an explanation, there was no problem. This was the closest to a rebellious phase I have ever had. But my parents didn't answer my questions with explanations, only answers like... middle of paper... My family's styles influenced my choice of strategies immensely. The conflicts with my parents that plagued my high school years provided me with an example of exactly what not to do. Likewise, when my siblings reached adolescence, my parents also took a different approach. Although they are not required to do so, they explain the reasoning behind their decisions and occasionally put smaller decisions to a vote and ask for input on larger decisions, such as where to go on vacation. I am often envious of the experience my siblings are having compared to what mine was like. At the same time, my experience of conflict with my parents was a valuable learning experience for all of us. I am very satisfied with my current conflict style, it has not only improved my conflict resolution skills but also improved my overall communication and listening skills.