Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T04:52:30.344Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Path of Emotional Least Resistance: Developing Theory Based on the Self-Reported Strengths of Happy and Distressed Couples in the Marriage Checkup

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2018

Tatiana D. Gray ,
James V. Cordova ,
Matt Hawrilenko ,
Taylor Dovala  and
Julia W. Sollenberger
Tatiana D. Gray*
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
James V. Cordova
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Matt Hawrilenko
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Taylor Dovala
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Julia W. Sollenberger
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
*
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Tatiana Gray, 950 Main St., Worcester MA, 01610, USA. Email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

This study examined the qualitative differences between the types of strengths identified by satisfied versus distressed couples seeking a Marriage Checkup. We hypothesised that distressed couples would nominate less intimate strengths, while satisfied couples would nominate more intimate strengths. We found that distressed partners were significantly more likely to nominate items from a Parallel Support category, whereas satisfied women, but not men, were significantly more likely to nominate items from an Intimate/Affectionate category. These findings suggest that an indicator of developing couple distress is the point where couples begin to focus their attention on less emotionally vulnerable relationship aspects.

Keywords

relationshipstrengthsintimacymarriage checkup
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 9 , 2018 , e5
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Banse, R., & Kowalick, C. (2007). Implicit attitudes towards romantic partners predict well-being in stressful life conditions: Evidence from the antenatal maternity ward. International Journal of Psychology, 42, 149–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207590601067037CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barnes, M.L., & Sternberg, R.J. (1997). A hierarchical model of love and its prediction of satisfaction in close relationships. In Sternberg, R.J. & Hojjat, M. (Eds.), Satisfaction in close relationships (pp. 79–101). New York, NY: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Baumeister, R.F., & Leary, M.R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 497–529. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.117.3.497CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bowlby, J. (1994). The making and breaking of affectional bonds. New York: Routledge. (Original work published 1979)Google Scholar
Christensen, A. (1988). Dysfunctional interaction patterns in couples. In Noller, P. & Fitzpatrick, M.A. (Eds.), Perspectives on marital interaction (pp. 31–52). Clevedon, England: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
Cordova, J.V. (2014). The Marriage Checkup practitioner's guide: promoting lifelong relationship health. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cordova, J.V. (2013). The Marriage Checkup Practitioner's Guide: Promoting lifelong relationship health. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.Google Scholar
Cordova, J.V., Fleming, C.J., Morrill, M.I., Hawrilenko, M., Sollenberger, J.W., Harp, A.G., . . . Wachs, K. (2014). The Marriage Checkup: A randomized controlled trial of annual relationship health checkups. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82, 592–604. doi:10.1037/a0037097CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cordova, J.V., Gee, C.G., & Warren, L.Z. (2005). Emotional skillfulness in marriage: Intimacy as a mediator of the relationship between emotional skillfulness and marital satisfaction. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 24, 218–235. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.24.2.218.62270CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cordova, J.V., & Scott, R.L. (2001). Intimacy: A behavioral interpretation. The Behavior Analyst, 24, 75–86.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cordova, J.V., Scott, R.L., Dorian, M., Mirgain, S., Yaeger, D., & Groot, A. (2005). The marriage checkup: A motivational interviewing approach to the promotion of marital health with couples at-risk for relationship deterioration. Behavior Therapy, 36, 301–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(05)80112-1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cordova, J.V., Warren, L.Z., & Gee, C.B. (2001). Motivational interviewing with couples: An intervention for at-risk couples. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 24, 437–455. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2001.tb00327.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Donelson, E., & Gullahorn, J.E. (1977). Women: A psychological perspective. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Fraley, C.R., & Shaver, P.R. (2000). Adult romantic attachment: Theoretical developments, emerging controversies, and unanswered questions. Review of General Psychology, 4, 132–154. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.4.2.132CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gordon, K.C. (2014, June). Relationship Rx: An evidence-based program to improve all couples’ relationships. Poster presented at the Annual Conference for the National Association for Relationship and Marriage Education in Houston, TX.Google Scholar
Gottman, J.M. (1994). What predicts divorce? The relationship between marital processes and marital outcomes. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
Hawrilenko, M., Gray, T. D., & Córdova, J. V. (2016). The heart of change: Acceptance and intimacy mediate treatment response in a brief couples intervention. Journal of Family Psychology, 30, 93–103. doi:10.1037/fam0000160CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laurenceau, J., Barrett, L.F., & Rovine, M.J. (2005). The interpersonal process model of intimacy in marriage: A daily-diary and multilevel modeling approach. Journal Of Family Psychology, 19, 314–323. doi:10.1037/0893-3200.19.2.314CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morrill, M.I., Fleming, C.E., Harp, A.G., Sollenberger, J.W., Darling, E.V., & Córdova, J.V. (2011). The Marriage Checkup: Increasing access to marital health care. Family Process, 50, 471–485. doi: 10.1111/j.1545-5300.2011.01372.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murray, S.L., Pinkus, R.T., Holmes, J.G., Harris, B., Gomillion, S., Aloni, M., & Leder, S. (2011). Signaling when (and when not) to be cautious and self-protective: Impulsive and reflective trust in loose relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101, 485. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023233CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Panksepp, J., Herman, B.H., Conner, R., Bishop, P., & Scott, J.P. (1978).The biology of social attachments: Opiates alleviate separation distress. Biological Psychiatry, 13, 607–618.Google ScholarPubMed
Prager, K.J. (1995). The psychology of intimacy. New York, NY: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Reis, H.T., Clark, M.S., & Holmes, J.G. (2004). Perceived partner responsiveness as an organizing construct in the study of intimacy and closeness. In Mashek, D.J., Aron, A.P. (Eds.), Handbook of closeness and intimacy (pp. 201–225). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
Reis, H.T., & Patrick, B.C. (1996). Attachment and intimacy: Component processes. In Higgins, E.T., Kruglanski, A.W., Higgins, E.T., Kruglanski, A.W. (Eds.), Social psychology: Handbook of basic principles (pp. 523–563). New York, NY: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Reis, H.T., & Shaver, P. (1988). Intimacy as an interpersonal process. In Duck, S., Hay, D.F., Hobfoll, S.E., Ickes, W., & Montgomery, B.M. (Eds.), Handbook of personal relationships: Theory, research and interventions (pp. 367–389). Oxford, England: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Schaefer, M.T., & Olson, D.H. (1981). Assessing intimacy: The PAIR Inventory. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 7, 47–60. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.1981.tb01351.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Skinner, B.F. (1953). Science and human behavior. Oxford, England: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Skinner, B.F. (1981). Selection by consequences. Science, 213, 501–504. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.7244649CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Skinner, B.F. (1984). The evolution of behavior. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 41, 217–221. doi:10.1901/jeab.1984.41-217CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Snyder, D.K. (1997). Marital Satisfaction Inventory, Revised (MSI-R): Manual. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1984.41-217.Google Scholar
Whisman, M.A., Beach, S.R., & Snyder, D.K. (2008). Is marital discord taxonic and can taxonic status be assessed reliably? Results from a national, representative sample of married couples. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 745–755. http://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.76.5.745CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed