As part of its commitment to international academic engagement, the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) organized a public lecture for Master’s students in Psychology entitled “When Love Meets Conflict: Navigating Adjustment and Satisfaction in Marriage.” The event was held on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Meeting Room 1 of the Faculty of Education (FIP) UNY.

The public lecture featured an international speaker, Prof. Dr. Siti Aishah binti Hassan from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), who serves as Professor of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at the Faculty of Educational Studies. Her presence was part of the Faculty of Psychology UNY’s Visiting Top Professor Program, aimed at strengthening international academic collaboration and broadening students’ perspectives in the fields of family psychology and counseling.

In her presentation, Prof. Siti Aishah emphasized that conflict in marriage is a natural part of intimate relationships and does not necessarily indicate the absence of love between partners. According to her, conflicts often arise from unmet emotional needs, differences in communication styles, life pressures, and individual attachment styles.

“Conflict is inevitable in relationships. What matters most is not how couples avoid conflict, but how they repair the relationship, regulate emotions, and reconnect after disagreements occur,” Prof. Siti Aishah explained during the lecture.

In addition to discussing the sources and dynamics of marital conflict, she also highlighted the importance of healthy communication, emotional regulation, and repair attempts as key factors in maintaining long-term relationship satisfaction and stability. Students were introduced to several evidence-based approaches in couple counseling, including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy (CBCT).

The event was conducted interactively with enthusiastic participation from students. The discussion and question-and-answer session provided opportunities for participants to explore various psychological issues in marital relationships, including communication challenges, emotional dynamics between partners, as well as cultural and spiritual sensitivity in family counseling practices.

Through this activity, the Faculty of Psychology UNY reaffirmed its commitment to providing learning experiences that are relevant to global academic developments while strengthening students’ competencies in family psychology and counseling. It is expected that students will not only understand theories related to interpersonal relationships and marriage, but also be able to apply scientific and empathetic approaches in their future professional practice.