Face-off between two partners on how to resolve a conflict or a disagreement. Challenging of one partner by another to defend a position taken in discussion, argument, or disagreement. Attitude that there must always be a winner and a loser. Attempt by one partner to show greater strength, knowledge, skill, talents, and abilities than the other.
Competition is a power struggle for control of all aspects of the relationship.
Who is smarter, wiser, more intelligent, has more facts, has more information, has the better memory. Who is sicker, who has been more victimized, who has sacrificed and given up more, who has been abused and neglected more, who has been hurt and has suffered more, who is more wretched, pitiable, and pathetic. Who has more jobs and work to complete, who has less time to get things done, who needs more time and attention from the other, who is neglecting or ignoring. You think you and your partner have agreed to do something, but when the time comes to get it done you both ignore it, forget it, disagree about the previous solution, and nothing gets done . You find that you dread having to have a discussion or dialog with your partner.