Transformative processes in marriage: An analysis of emerging trends (original) (raw)
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Reconceptualizing Marital Conflict: A relational perspective
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Conflict in marriage: Implications for working with couples
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▪ Abstract The investigation of marital conflict has reached a crossroads. Over 25 years of research on marital conflict behavior yields a relatively clear picture of its topography, but its relevance for changing the marital relationship remains controversial. We can continue to amass observations in a relatively atheoretical manner and hope that patterns capable of guiding clinical activity will emerge, or we can begin creating a unified theoretical framework to indicate new directions for clinical activity and empirical investigation.
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Because those we love are paradoxically the ones we are most likely to hurt, it is critical to understand forgiveness in close relationships. Indeed, spouses report that the capacity to seek and grant forgiveness is one of the most important factors contributing to marital longevity and marital satisfaction (Fenell, 1993), and marital therapists note that forgiveness is a challenging but necessary part of the healing process for major relationship transgressions such as infi delity (Gordon & Baucom, 1999). Likewise, forgiveness of everyday hurts may contribute to relationship strength in numerous ways (Fincham, Beach, & Davila, 2004). This chapter explores forgiveness as it operates within the context of marriage, considering the existing research that has been done in this area as well as identifying promising directions for future research. We also address how forgiveness can be applied in interventions with individual couples and groups of couples within the community. Finally, w...
Contextualizing the Study of Marital Transformation: Points of Convergence
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We are heartened that our effort to stimulate a broadly based discussion of future marital research has attracted such a distinguished response. Each of those writing a commentary joins us in welcoming an expanded focus for our field. The level of discourse in the commentaries indicates that the marital area is ready for a new level of integration that weaves together many disparate threads of inquiry into a brilliant, new tapestry.
Forgiveness and conflict resolution in marriage.
2004
Abstract 1. Two studies examined whether forgiveness in married couples is associated with better conflict resolution. Study 1 examined couples in their 3rd year of marriage and identified 2 forgiveness dimensions (retaliation and benevolence). Husbands' retaliatory motivation was a significant predictor of poorer wife-reported conflict resolution, whereas wives' benevolence motivation predicted husbands' reports of better conflict resolution.
Current Psychology
In even the happiestmarriage relationships, individuals sometimes can face with stressful conditions or difficulties, and nevertheless, their relationships can endure. Under these circumstances, it is thought that determining which resources provide relational resilience would be a guide in strengthening a marriage relationship. This study aimed to investigate, under stressful life circumstances, how relational resilience in marriage is explained with self-pruning, and mediation role of satisfaction with sacrifice in the relationship between self-pruning and relational resilience. 300 married individuals (156 females and 144 males) who have at least one stressful life condition participated in the study (M= 40.74, SD = .60). Participants were given Personal Information Form, The Relational Resilience Scale, The Relational-Self Change Scale, and The Satisfaction with Sacrifice Scale. The structural equation model analyses (SEM) revealed that in the face of stressful life conditions, relational resilience in marriage is closely related to self-pruning and satisfaction with sacrifice. Results of the study showed that there is a direct relationship between self-pruning and relational resilience, and satisfaction with sacrifice has a partial effect in this relationship. These findings are expected to reveal some resources that have a role in providing relational resilience in marriage and by this way, make theoretical, practical, and interventional contributions to the field of marriage, family, and couple counseling. In addition, it is seen that the results indicate the existence of a potential serving to the understanding of relational dynamics in marriages.
Sacrifice as a Predictor of Marital Outcomes
Family Process, 2006
We investigated the prospective associations between attitudes about sacrifice and marital outcomes in 38 married couples. Specifically, a measure of satisfaction with sacrifice was proposed to be a potent longitudinal predictor of marital adjustment and distress based on existing cross-sectional studies and also to mediate the association between commitment and marital adjustment. Results demonstrated that attitudes about sacrifice discriminated between couples who would become distressed versus nondistressed over time. Sacrifice attitudes also predicted the maintenance of relationship adjustment over time even better than earlier relationship adjustment. Finally, sacrifice attitudes mediated the link between commitment and relationship adjustment for husbands, but not wives. Implications for intervention are discussed.
FORGIVENESS IN MARRIAGE: FROM CURE TO HEALING
Teologie si viata, 2021
The act of forgiveness is pivotal in the dynamics of family life. Today's unprecedented rise in divorce case numbers indicate that marital relationships are being shaken by the spirit of independence and individualism in the postmodern society. Resorting to psychotherapists to deal with these marital conflicts does not yield to a complete solution of the relational crisis or to healing the deep human wounds, thus restoring freedom. In this research, select psychological models of John Bowlby, Carl Jung, and John Gottman to deal with conflicts and forgiveness in family relationships are presented. To dialog with and examine these models, corresponding Christocentric approaches of St. Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvitis, St. Paisios the Athonite, and St. John Chrysostom are also presented. The latter pastoral approaches show how Christ gives not just a cure to human resentment and guilt, which is a matter supported by psychotherapy, but also bestows the mystery of forgiveness upon humankind, bringing about inner peace, reconciliation, joy, marital unity, and ultimately ontological healing. The paper explains how these Patristic approaches are actualized through the essential role and work of the spiritual guide in directing the husband and wife and helping them to live a healthy family life.
Til lack of forgiveness doth us part: Forgiveness in marriage
2005
Because those we love are paradoxically the ones we are most likely to hurt, it is critical to understand forgiveness in close relationships. Indeed, spouses report thatthe capacity to seek and grant forgiveness is one of the most important factors contributing to marital longevity and marital satisfaction (Fenell, 1993), and mar-ital therapists note that forgiveness is a challenging but necessary part of the healing process for major relationship transgressions such as infidelity (Gordon & Baucom, 1999).