Browsing by Subject "Communication in marriage"
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Item A dynamic systems exploration of affective self-organization processes during marital interaction: attractors, perturbations, and phase transitions(Texas Tech University, 2004-12) Gardner, Brandt CraigThis study utilized a dynamic systems perturbation experiment to explore the self-organization properties of 23 married couples' continuous self-reports of their affective experience during a marital interaction episode. According to dynamic systems theory, patterns are hypothesized to emerge and stabilize as a result of the reciprocal interactions between elements ofa complex system. The affective climate generated by two spouses was hypothesized to be such a system. Participant spouses were asked to identify and discuss for 10 minutes a recent incident where they felt hurt or offended by their partner. At 10 minutes, the marital affective system was perturbed when spouses were signaled to open an envelope which invited them to share with their partner a time when they felt cared-for or supported. This conversation continued for seven minutes. Immediately following their conversation, spouses engaged in a recall procedure where they were seated at a television monitor and computer and, as they watched the split-screen video of their conversation, provided a continuous rating of their affective state during that conversation. Using a recent graphical development in dynamic child development research, each spouse's affect data were plotted on a 5 x 5 state space grid. Pre-perturbation and post-perturbation graphs were developed for each couple. Eight naive raters individually sorted the resulting 46 graphs by shape into homogenous groups. From this sorting a proximity matrix was developed and cluster analysis applied in order to establish group assignment for all graphs. The cluster analysis was partitioned at five clusters, which were labeled as "disorganized," "neutral," "male positive," "female positive," and "positive." The results suggest that, for the majority of these couples, their affect patterns resembled an attractor state, localized in a specific region of the state space. Furthermore, the perturbation was successful in moving all but six couples into a different affect pattern during the final seven minutes of their conversation, suggesting that the affective climate in marital relationships is a complex, dynamic system that has self-organizing properties. However, additional analyses indicated that no significant relationship between mean marital satisfaction scores and group assignment. The results are discussed in terms of their fit within a dynamic systems conceptual framework as well as the established marital interaction literature. Implications for researchers and clinicians are also discussed.Item Acquisition of problem solving skills as a function of locus of control orientation(Texas Tech University, 1979-08) Baugh, Carroll W.The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of locus of control orientation upon problem solving skills acquisition by marital couples. Couples were assigned to one of three treatment groups based upon their locus of control orientation: (a) internal (N=8 couples), (b) external (N=5 couples), and (c) mixed (i.e., one spouse internal, one spouse external) (N=7 couples). Couples in all three groups were given an eight-week, 24-hour, mutual problem solving skills program. Results indicated that although all three treatment groups significantly increased their problem solving ability, there were no significant differences between the treatment groups in problem solving ability. Discussion centered on those factors responsible for the lack of treatment group differences on problem solving skills acquisition.Item An evaluation and comparison of a sexual enhancement and a communication training program for their effects on sexual and marital satisfaction(Texas Tech University, 1986-12) Cooper, Alvin LNot availableItem An examination of nonverbal behavioral reciprocity in nondistressed marital partners(Texas Tech University, 1982-12) Griffin, William AlbertBehavioral reciprocity, as a lawful pattern of dyadic interaction, was investigated using an experimental design which allowed direct manipulation of couple interaction. As a result, specific behaviors were altered and a measure of reciprocity between marital partners obtained, More specifically, during a sequence of dyadic interaction, the frequency of touch by one spouse was manipulated to increase, and the subsequent behavior by the other spouse was observed to increase. Also monitored, but not manipulated, were the nonverbal behaviors of headnod and smile. Forty nondistressed couples were used in the study; each couple was randomly assigned to either the experimental (N=20) or control (N=20) condition. Subjects were predominantly young, well educated, white, and married an average of seven years. Couples in both conditions were asked to play a word game during two ten-minute video tapings. Following the first taping, one spouse was randomly selected by sex to receive additional instructions from the investigator. Selected spouses in the control condition were read a neutral statement, whereas selected spouses in the experimental condition were asked to increase nonobstrusive touching during the final ten minute taping. A series of ANCOVA and ANOVA procedures between experimental and control conditions analyzing the tapings resulted in several significant findings. First, reciprocity was found for touch. Second, generalizability of emission of nonverbal behaviors was demonstrated when manipulated spouses in the experimental condition increased smiles concurrent with touches. Third, similar to touches, this increase in smiles was reciprocated, Finally, headnods did not increase concurrently either with the increase in touches and smiles, or with the increase in reciprocated touches and smiles. A possible explanation for this differential response across nonverbals was forwarded.Item An experimental approach examining reciprocity between distressed and nondistressed couples(Texas Tech University, 1983-12) Taylor, Vincent LNot availableItem Attitude and behavior change in couples as a function of communication training(Texas Tech University, 1978-05) Stafford, Richard RaymondNot availableItem Behavioral marital therapy: and the comparison of delayed treatment/immediate treatment and cotherapists/individual therapists in the treatment of distressed couples(Texas Tech University, 1981-12) Mehlman, Susan KaplanNot availableItem Consistency and variability in couples' verbal interaction(Texas Tech University, 1979-12) Lemaire, Theo EmmanuelNot availableItem Conversational narcissism in marriage: effects on partner mental health and marital quality over the transition to parenthood(2008-05) Leit, Lisa, 1973-; Jacobvitz, DeborahThis study seeks to explore how narcissistic attention seeking behaviors in faceto-face conversation contribute to marital quality and partner’s mental health over the transition to parenthood. Narcissism, considered a personality disorder, is defined as an all-pervasive pattern of grandiosity in fantasy or behavior. Central features of narcissism include a need for admiration and a lack of empathy. The concept of narcissism has been extended beyond mental illness and is now considered a personality trait (Raskin & Terry, 1988). It follows then that narcissistic tendencies might affect one’s communication style. This research elaborates the concept of narcissism, and discusses the ways that narcissistic patterns in interpersonal relationships have been studied. Finally, drawing upon social exchange theory, it finds that conversational narcissism characterizes 78 percent of marriages, frequently renders spouses invisible, and predicts maladaptive dialogue and divorce at seven years.Item Development of a transactional measure of couple communication(Texas Tech University, 1978-08) Morris, James PhillipNot availableItem Ecological congruence: evaluating the assessment of marital quality and communication(Texas Tech University, 1987-05) Dennis, Maribeth BatesNot availableItem Enactments in couple therapy: a process study(Texas Tech University, 1995-12) Woolley, Scott RolandGreenberg's (1986, 1991) analytic method of process research was used to identify a process in couple therapy called an enactment. An enactment was defined as a therapeutic process in which the couple talks directly to each other and the therapist coaches the couple's interaction. Observational coding was used to investigate the use of enactments in couple therapy. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between therapist interventions and positive and negative couple interaction during enactments. Gottman's (1994) RCISS was used to measure the dimensions of couple positive and negative interaction. The Therapist Interaction Scoring System (TISS) was developed by the author to measure therapist interventions. The sample consisted of 36 videotaped enactment segments of eight therapists and 14 couples. Stepwise regression analyses revealed significant positive associations between therapist directives to husbands and husband positive speech, and between directives to couples and couple positive speech. Therapist directives to the couple were also significantly negatively related to couple negative speech, and positively related to the ratio of positive to negative couple talk. Therapist structuring to wives was significantly positively related to wife positive speech. However, negative wife speech and the ratio of positive to negative wife talk turns were not significantly related to any of the therapist intervention variables. Therapist use of affect with husbands was significantly negatively related to husband negative talk and positively related to the ratio of positive to negative husband speech. Enactments were divided into two groups, one with positive interaction and one with negative interaction over time. MANOVA revealed significant overall differences between the positive and negative groups. Structuring, directives, and support were used more often with positive couples. Descriptive analysis indicated that enactments were different lengths and were not regularly used by most therapists. The frequency of therapist interventions varied greatly, and therapists handled positive and negative couple exchanges differently. Therapists also rarely directly confronted negatives or encouraged positives. Couple talk during enactments was generally positive. Couples usually engaged in either positive or negative exchanges and couples did not continue with one partner being positive and the other negative for long.Item Enrichment through communication: testing a cognitive behavioral approach to marital communication skills training(Texas Tech University, 1982-05) Wilfong, Edward JamesNot availableItem Problem solving skills training for marital couples: an evaluation of a weekend training format(Texas Tech University, 1979-01) Farris, Darrell WebsterThe purpose of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of a weekend problem solving skills training program for marital couples. Couples were assigned to an experimental group (N = 7 couples) or to a control group (N = 7 couples) on the basis of their weekend schedules. The experimental group couples received twelve hours of problem solving skills training during one weekend while the control group received no training. Results indicated that the experimental group, as compared to the control group, significantly increased in problem solving bility and in general communication style. No posttest differences were found between the two groups in marital satisfaction. Discussion entered on the advantages of being able to offer skills training to couples in a convenient weekend format.Item The development of a rapid measure to assess dyadic nonverbal communication(Texas Tech University, 1983-12) Brewster, James RobertNot availableItem The effects of marriage encounter on self-disclosure, trust and marital satisfaction(Texas Tech University, 1979-08) Milholland, Thomas A.The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Marriage Encounter in increasing the amount of couple self-disclosure, level of trust, and marital satisfaction. Seventeen couples participated in a Marriage Encounter weekend, while twenty-three other couples served as a waiting list control group. Results indicated that the experimental group, relative to the control group, significantly increased in: (a) their level of trust, and (b) their level of marital satisfaction. The results were mixed with regard to the hypothesis that individuals attending a Marriage Encounter weekend, relative to a control group, would significantly increase the amount of self-disclosure to their spouse. Discussion centered on the strengths and weaknesses of Marriage Encounter.Item The effects of two marriage enrichment retreat models on marital satisfaction(Texas Tech University, 1981-12) Strickland, James HasslerAs partially evidenced by the current divorce rate and violence in the home, the quality and stability of marriage in the United States appears to be on a continuing decline. The resulting broken and disturbed homes have an adverse effect on the children involved. In an effort to increase marital quality, and thus slow down this trend, the marriage enrichment movement was introduced to this country in the early 1960's. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of two marriage enrichment retreat models on marital satisfaction and communication. During February to September, 1981, five marriage enrichment retreats were conducted for Southern Baptist churches in Idaho, New Mexico, and Texas. Seventeen of the couples involved attended retreats using a Social Exchange Model, specially designed for this study. The same number participated in Basic Model retreats. This model is currently in use by the Family Ministry Department of the Southern Baptist Convention. The remaining 21 couples who participated in the study were members of a Control Group and did not attend a retreat. At the beginning and ending of each retreat, and six weeks later, the participants completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the Marital Communication Inventory. A similar time frame was followed in securing these instruments from members of the Control Group. An analysis of the data revealed a significant treatment effect at both posttest and follow-up assessments. Those who participated in the retreats showed a greater change from pretest to later tests, with the Social Exchange Model producing the greatest change. The effects of sex, age, length of marriage, and marital developmental stage of the subjects were also studied. Age and length of marriage produced significant effects, but sex and developmental stage did not.Item The negotiation of tactile relationships in the marital dyad of incest survivors(Texas Tech University, 1995-05) Noble, E. AnnResearch has shown that incest, a tactile event, has short- and long-term deleterious effects. No study, up to this point, has linked incest, a tactile event, with subsequent tactile messages the incest survivor sends and receives. Thus, the purpose of this grounded theory study was to examine this linkage by exploring the tactile patterns in the marital dyad of incest survivors. An in-depth interview was conducted with 15 married female incest survivors who were presently or who had been in therapy. The participants were asked to describe tactile messages they sent and received in various situations and contexts. Specifically questions were asked about ideal touch, comfortable/uncomfortable touch, appropriate/inappropriate touch, typical/atypical touch, touch when fearful/upset, sexual/non-sexual touch, general changes regarding touch over time, touch related to incest event(s), and communication used about what tactile messages are liked/disliked. This study resulted in a grounded theory regarding the tactile relationships in the marital dyad of incest survivors. Those relationship stages ranging from unhealthy to healthy are described as abusive, avoidant, conflictual, transitional, and consensual. Survivors and their spouses may start at any stage, and progress toward a healthier or an unhealthier stage. Some stages may also be skipped. Much of this progression is dependent upon whether or not metamessages are exchanged, are "heard," and are adhered to by the other partner.Item Unilateral marital intervention: training low satisfaction spouses to train their partners in communication skills(Texas Tech University, 1979-08) Butler, George WinstonThe purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to assess whether low satisfaction spouses in marital dyads could train their partners in interpersonal communication skills, and 2) to assess what effect this training in interpersonal communication skills had on marital communication and marital adjustment of both marital partners. The participants in the study were all women from the Lubbock, Texas community or the surrounding area. After the participants had been trained in communication skills for five weeks, they were randomly assigned to a trainer group and a modeling group. Then the participants in the trainer group were trained and supervised in teaching their partners the same communication skills they learned during the first five weeks. It was discovered that this population of low satisfaction spouses was very difficult to study, because of the small percentage of partners who were willing to cooperate with research aspects of the study. Because of the small sample size, no valid or reliable conclusions could be made. Nevertheless, using the results of the data collected, the trainer group seemed to be significantly higher in marital cohesion than the modeling group at posttest.