Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-123). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR38827

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (University of Texas Digital Repository, viewed on July 30, 2009). Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2005. / Title from PDF title page screen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 66-82)

Thesis (M.A.)--Bowling Green State University, 2006. / Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 59 p. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study was to analyze student therapist’s level of agreement with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy’s (AAMFT) formal statements concerning lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) persons and families; specifically, it examined student’s level of agreement with the AAMFT’s definition of Marriage/Couple and Family Therapy (CFT), and the AAMFT’s formal statement concerning same sex couples. This was explored via the participant’s qualitative and quantitative answers. The study used an existing data set consisting of 248 participants; 62.6% were enrolled in a masters program and 36.8% were enrolled in a PhD CFT program. Participant’s quantitative responses indicated that a large majority of participants agreed with the statements, and were in support of the AAMFT inviting same sex couples to receive therapeutic services. However, the qualitative responses also indicated that some participants disagreed with the statements, and did not hold accepting beliefs towards LGB persons and families.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University. Note: missing pages: 40, 212, and 214. / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to investigate empirically whether there is an association between value system similarity and marital adjustment; and (2) to examine qualitatively the nature of that association. The relationship between mutual values and marital adjustment has long been assumed to be a strong one, although little research has been done to verify the assumption. The theoretical framework and empirical instrument developed by Milton Rokeach were used to define and measure the independent variable, value convergence. A value is defined as a belief centrally located in the belief system about how one ought to behave or about an end-state of existence which a person considers worth attaining. A value system is the rank order of a person's values in terms of their importance to him. Two separate value systems are postulated, a terminal value system (goals for living) and an instrumental value system (modes of behaving). The term, value convergence, refers to the degree of similarity or agreement in value systems existing between husband and wife. The conceptual approach and adjustment test of Harvey J. Locke were employed to define and measure the dependent variable, marital adjustment. The term, marital adjustment, refers to the level of adaptation of husband and wife in such a way as to resolve conflicts sufficiently so that both spouses feel satisfied with their marriage and with one another, develop common interests and activities, and feel that their marriage is fulfilling their expectations. Two major theoretical hypotheses were constructed which, summarily stated, posit a greater degree of terminal and instrumental value convergence between well-adjusted than maladjusted spouses. Control hypotheses were also theoretically generated on certain demographic variables in order to check on the uniformity of the sample groups. In order to test the general hypothesis an investigation was conducted with 50 married couples, all of whom reside in a twelve-town area in southeast Massachusetts. Twenty-five maladjusted couples were selected from consecutive admissions for marriage counseling at the Plymouth Area Mental Health Center. Twenty-five well-adjusted couples were drawn from a subject pool of 35 happily married couples recommended for participation in the project by clergymen. The 25 couples scoring highest on the Locke Marital Relationship Inventory were selected to comprise the well-adjusted group. Data on couples' value systems were obtained by using the Rokeach Value Survey and a semi-projective sentence completion instrument designed by the researcher. The results of the quantitative investigation were found to be positive and significant. The results showed that well-adjusted couples had more similar terminal and instrumental values than did maladjusted couples. Like instrumental values were further found to be more strongly associated with good marital adjustment than like terminal values. In other words, it is important that couples agree on their goals for living but, even more crucial, that they concur regarding modes of behaving. The findings from the qualitative inquiry into the nature of the association between the variables revealed that well-adjusted couples with like values differ from their counterparts in that they (1) perceive the future positively sharing similar goals, (2) make decisions conjointly agreeing on means, and (3) experience a high degree of marital unity based on common goals and shared activities. On the basis of the findings from the quantitative and qualitative investigations, it was concluded that level of marital adjustment is positively related to degree of value convergence. Value system similarity appears to be important as two people interact with one another over a long period of time, and as they engage in long range planning. / 2031-01-01

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Missing pages 38 and 39 / This research is based on a sample of 76 couples experiencing a fertility problem. Recruited through a medical fertility clinic and several adoption agencies, the response rate was 43%. Data were collected by weans of written questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The focus of this research is on the way that parenthood identity changes for couples who are unable to have biological children and who therefore pursue adoption as an alternate route to parenthood. Conceptualized as a "transformation of identity", the analysis traces the process by which couples relinquish identification with biological parenthood and assume identification with adoptive parenthood. Several key issues are explored in the study: the impact of infertility on the taken-for-granted weaning of parenthood; critical incidents that initiate the transition to adoptive parenthood; objective and subjective indicators of what it weans to be ready to take on adoptive parenthood; and finally, the resocialization process involved in shifting from biological to adoptive parenthood. Also examined is the relationship between infertility resolution and adoption readiness. The findings suggest that this is not always a sequential relationship as usually assumed, but rather, way be experienced as a concurrent commitment to both biological and adoptive parenthood. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Cette thèse questionne certains présupposés communs de la sociologie de la famille occidentale du XXIe siècle afin de proposer une vision compréhensive renouvelée des rapports familiaux. Elle montre que sous la perception d’une tendance actuelle à choisir de former ou de dissoudre des liens familiaux selon des souhaits et des appréciations personnelles de sa situation familiale et conjugale, loin de reposer d’abord sur l’intérêt, la domination ou la satisfaction immédiate des désirs, la vie de couple et de famille s’ancre dans des convictions profondes, qui forment un « métarécit » et qui rendent possible que des rapports de don s’établissent entre les membres des familles et des couples. Dans cette démonstration, la théorie du don joue un rôle important, et ce,de trois façons. Cette théorie s’inscrit d’abord en faux contre une tendance actuelle en sciences humaines, et en sociologie de la famille et du couple en particulier, à interpréter les phénomènes sociaux à l’aune de l’intérêt individuel, de la domination et de la satisfaction des désirs égoïstes, tout en dépassant les concepts de« solidarité » ou de « care », également chéris par la recherche actuelle, mais trop imprécis ou trop imprégnés des notions d’intérêt, de justice ou de domination. Ensuite, cette théorie reprend et subsume les principes organisateurs des familles les plus importants et les plus pertinents dégagés par les théoriciens de la famille et du couple depuis environ cent trente ans, de Durkheim à de Singly en passant par Parsons, Becker, Giddens et Kaufmann notamment. Finalement, nous considérons que c’est l’un de ces représentants les plus importants,Maurice Godelier, qui apporte la clé anthropologique nécessaire à la compréhension de ce que nous observons au sein des couples et des familles. Pour que les rapports aimants et solidaires qu’on y observe existent, il faut,en effet, qu’un métarécit du don soutienne les efforts de chacun dans leur perpétuation. Ainsi que le montre cette thèse, bien des auteurs, au fil des décennies, se sont approchés de cette découverte avant quel’individualisme et la recherche de l’intérêt personnel strictement financier en vienne à occuper une grande partie des préoccupations sociologiques, se sont approchés de cette découverte. Mais c’est grâce à la réponse que donne Godelier à « l’énigme du don » (pourquoi donne-t-on et pourquoi rend-on ?) que le rôle du métarécit et des sentiments forts dans le don conjugal et familial prend tout son sens. Le métarécit permet que des sentiments forts existent entre les membres des familles ; et que ces sentiments forts soient préservés. Cette préservation est cruciale, car pour que le don circule, explique Godelier, il faut qu’il y ait un fondement de non circulation,de choses qu’on ne donne pas. En exposant et en analysant les témoignages de 20 membres de couples parentaux de la classe moyenne de la région de Québec, cette thèse montre comment la théorie du don, et plus particulièrement celle de Godelier, permet au mieux de comprendre ce qui se passe chez les couples avec enfants des années 2010. L’intérêt, la domination et la satisfaction des désirs occupent ici une place réelle, mais secondaire. Ce sont les sentiments forts, leur préservation, le métarécit qui les soutient et la circulation du don qu’ils permettent qui, au contraire, figurent à l’avant-plan d’une compréhension plus approfondie de leur expérience familiale et conjugale.