review paper power point presentation
TRANSCRIPT
S
Successful Marriage as a Function of
Effective Communication, Effectual
Conflict Resolution, and Interpersonal
Commitment
Rebecca Ellis
Argosy University
August 11, 2010
Abstract
Successful Marriage as a Function of
Effective Communication, Effectual Conflict
Resolution, and Interpersonal Commitment
Communication Strength: Weakness:
The mean
length of
marriage for the
sample
participants in
this study was
eight years; this
factor indicates
a strength of
this study
because the
communication
habits that were
studied were
effective in
sustaining
marriage
relationships for
a significant
length of time.
A potential
weakness of
this study lies in
the exclusive
self-report
methodology
utilized.
In “Self-Disclosure and Marital
Satisfaction”, Hendrick (1981)
studied communication with a focus
on self-disclosure in particular. This
study “found a consistent positive
relationship between self-disclosure
and marital satisfaction”
(Hendrick, 1981, p. 1150). The
author also discovered that level of
self-disclosure is a strong predictor
of marital satisfaction and that
attitude similarity is positively
correlated with marital satisfaction.
Hendrick also discussed the
important issue of reciprocity of self-
disclosure.
Communication
Strength: Weakness:
Diversity of
participants.
The difficulty in
obtaining
comparable
educational and
income levels
across cross-
cultural
samples, which
calls into
question the
influence of
other cultural
factors .
Conflict Resolution
Strength: Weakness:
This study has
several
strengths,
mainly involving
the specific
conceptualizatio
n of forgiveness
and the focus on
the specific
implications of
forgiveness in
conflict
resolution.
The drawback to
this source is its
significant lack
of diversity in its
sample
participants.
Conflict
Resolution Strength: Weakness:
The strengths
of this resource
revolve around
the fact that it
builds off of the
authors’ 2004
research
regarding
conflict
resolution and
forgiveness and
adds the aspect
of a longitudinal
study.
The drawback
to this piece, as
was the case
with the
authors’
previous
research, is the
lack of
participant
diversity.
Building on the research described above and adding the aspect of a longitudinal study, Fincham, Beach, and Davila again collaborated in 2007 to author “Longitudinal Relations Between Forgiveness and Conflict Resolution in Marriage”. In this study, the authors stated that forgiveness is an essential component of conflict resolution. They also state, “conflict resolution is integral to a successful relationship”, and that resentment “may fuel couple conflict and impede successful conflict resolution. In contrast, forgiving the partner for the transgression is a potential means of providing closure with regard to a painful or disturbing relationship event and reducing the extent to which that event can intrude upon future interactions” (Fincham, Beach, & Davila, 2007, p. 542). This article points out the importance of conflict resolution to the survival of a marriage relationship, and the necessity of forgiveness as an integral component of conflict resolution as evidenced by a longitudinal study.
Conflict Resolution
Strength: Weakness:
The strength of
this resource
lies in the
methodology,
which includes
self-reports,
observations
made by
spouse, and
researcher
observations of
negative
behavior and
conflict
resolution.
The weakness
of this resource
involves its lack
of sample
participant
information. No
mention of
sampling
method was
made, nor were
participant
demographics
provided.
Commitment
Strength: Weakness:
Six studies
were employed
with extensive
participants.
The report
gives a
significant
amount of
detail, and the
questionnaire
utilized in the
study is
included in the
report.
No significant
weaknesses
were identified
in this source.
This was a very
useful, well-
designed
article.
In “The Conceptualization of
Marital Commitment: An
Integrative Analysis”, Adams
and Jones (1997) conceptualize
marital commitment. This article
integrates previous literature in
order to discern convergent
themes regarding what
relational commitment is and
how it operates to stabilize
intimate relationships. The
authors distinguished between
personal commitment, moral
commitment, and structural
commitment with explanations
of each.
Commitment
Strength: Weakness:
The author uses
life history
interview
methodology to
examine
orientations
toward marital
commitment and
provides a
significant level
of detail in the
report.
The author
utilized all self-
report
measures.
Commitment
Strength: Weakness:
This article
includes the
research
questionnaire
utilized in the
study, which
allows for exact
replication and
offers ideas for
conceptualizing
research
concepts.
This article
presents
multiple
hypotheses,
which makes it a
bit difficult to
follow.
Commitment
Strength: Weakness:
Survey methods
were utilized
along with lab
sessions where
participant’s
physiological
responses to
presented
photos of
attractive
individuals were
recorded.
Asignificant lack
of diversity in
that all
participants
were
psychology
students.
Communication, Conflict
Resolution, & Commitment
Strength: Weakness:
The article
includes
significant detail
and the
participants
were diverse.
None noted.
S
Conclusion
In conclusion, given that effective communication,
effectual conflict resolution, and a strong
interpersonal commitment were indicated in this
literature review as being the prevailing arguments
for the vital concepts that lead to marital satisfaction
(at least in American marriage relationships), it
would appear warranted to further study these three
concepts in order to understand and utilize them in
an effort to achieve marital satisfaction in American
marriages. The role of self-disclosure in effective
communication, the role of forgiveness and
effective behavior during conflict resolution, and the
types of commitment and ways to foster
commitment in a marriage relationship all warrant
further examination and research.
S
Research Question
Therefore, the obvious questions to ask are: What makes communication effective? What is effective conflict resolution and how do I utilize it? And, how do I improve my level of commitment? These three questions can be condensed into one research question: What does effective communication, effectual conflict resolution, and interpersonal commitment entail, and how can I utilize these concepts to achieve marital satisfaction?
S
Further Research
This research question is important in the effort to
address the social problem of the prominence of divorce. It is
apparent that some type of intervention is warranted in order to
aid couples that are experiencing low marital satisfaction and
who are currently considering divorce. Teaching these concepts
and the ways to utilize them to premarital counseling couples
could also potentially reduce typical marital problems and
increase the likelihood of achieving marital satisfaction. This
research question is also relevant to the current work being
done on achieving marital satisfaction as it delves deeper into
concepts that have already been identified as being vital to a
successful marriage. A more thorough understanding of each of
the concepts, along with suggestions on how to implement
positive strategies that utilize effective communication, effectual
conflict resolution, and strong interpersonal commitment
appear to be warranted in an effort to reduce the current
divorce rate in America.
References
S Adams, J., & Jones, W.H. (1997). The conceptualization of marital commitment: An integrative analysis. Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology, 72(5), 1177-1196. Retrieved August 8, 2010, from Argosy University’s
PsychARTICLES database
S Argosy University. (2010). PSY492: The process of research: Module One. Retrieved August 8, 2010, from
http://myeclassonline.com
S Byrd, S.E. (2009). The social construction of marital commitment. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71(2), 318-336.
Retrieved August 8, 2010, from Argosy University’s ProQuest database
S Carroll, J.S., & Doherty, W.J. (2003). Evaluating the effectiveness of premarital prevention programs: A meta-
analytic review of outcome research. Family Relations, 52(2), 105-118. Retrieved August 8, 2010, from Argosy
University’s SocINDEX database
S Fincham, F. D., Beach, S. R. H., & Davila, J. (2004). Forgiveness and conflict resolution in marriage. Journal of
Family Psychology, 18(1), 72-81. Retrieved August 8, 2010, from Argosy University’s PsychARTICLES database
S Fincham, F. D., Beach, S. R., & Davila, J. (2007). Longitudinal relations between forgiveness and conflict resolution
in marriage. Journal of Family Psychology, 21(3), 542-545. Retrieved August 8, 2010, from Argosy University’s
PsychARTICLES database
S Hendrick, S. S. (1981). Self-disclosure and marital satisfaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,
40(6), 1150-1159. Retrieved August 8, 2010, from Argosy University’s PsychARTICLES database
References
S Johnson, M.P., Caughlin, J.P., & Huston, T.L. (1999). The tripartite nature of marital commitment: Personal, moral, and structural reasons to stay married. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61(1), 160-177. Retrieved August 8, 2010, from Argosy University’s ProQuest database
S Miller, R. S. (1997). Inattentive and contented: Relationship commitment and attention to alternatives. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(4), 758-766. Retrieved August 8, 2010, from Argosy University’s PsychARTICLES database
S McNulty, J. K. (2008). Forgiveness in marriage: Putting the benefits into context. Journal of Family Psychology, 22(1), 171-175. Retrieved August 8, 2010, from Argosy University’s PsychARTICLES database
S Rehman, U.S., & Holtzworth-Munroe, A. (2007). A cross-cultural examination of the relation of marital communication behavior to marital satisfaction. Journal of Family Psychology, 21(4), 759-763. Retrieved August 8, 2010, from Argosy University’s PsychARTICLES database
S Stanley, S.M., Markman, H.J., & Whitton, S.W. (2002). Communication, conflict, and commitment: Insights on the foundations of relationship success from a national survey. Family Process, 41(4), 659-675. Retrieved August 8, 2010, from Argosy University’s ProQuest database