This series of work explores the nature of the bed as object and metaphor. The bed is an object where an action, such as thinking and laying awake takes place. In a metaphorical sense, the bed in my work represents moods and emotions that are psychologically tied to the bed. In this body of work I explore the relationship between the person and the bed. The bed represents not only an intimate space, but also a hiding place of retreat and self-imposed alienation. This series pulls from personal experience, influences such as Alison Brady and Sophie Callie, and select films that focus on the problems, issues, and decisions of the human condition. In my work I bring together formal qualities and conceptual content to create juxtaposition between beauty and mood. I am interested in visual poetry and formalism in photographs. Throughout all the photographic work I have created, I focus on using existing light and composing an image intuitively.

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Relationships in which one partner is transgender are disproportionately challenging compared to other LGBQ+ relationships (Gamarel et al., 2014; Pulice-Farrow et al., 2017). While research has yet to examine how transgender-cisgender couples experience emotional intimacy, it is theorized that this process may be critical for relationship health during gender transition. This study explored how transgender-cisgender couples experience emotional intimacy during their transition process. Symbolic interactionism was used to examine the questions: (1) How do perceptions of couple emotional intimacy influence how each partner assigns meaning to their experiences with transitioning? and (2) How do partners communicate about their emotional experiences during their transition process? Constructivist grounded theory was used to analyze individual interviews with 20 transgender and cisgender participants (ten couples) using group-level analysis. The process model that emerged from the data indicated that transgender and cisgender partners experienced emotional tensions internally and within their relationships as they created meaning from their experiences with transitioning. Tensions created pathways for partners to emotionally withdraw from or engage in communication about their experiences. Communication processes ebbed and flowed as partners created meaning for their relationship in transition. When couples engaged in communication, they created shared meaning about their experiences and strengthened emotional intimacy. Data revealed that these processes of building and sustaining emotional intimacy were interactional and iterative. Recommendations for research and clinical work with these couples are provided, in light of these findings. / Doctor of Philosophy / Relationships in which one partner is transgender are particularly challenging compared to other LGBQ+ relationships (Gamarel et al., 2014; Pulice-Farrow et al., 2017). Research has yet to examine how transgender (a person whose gender identity does not align with their assigned sex at birth) and cisgender (a person whose gender identity aligns with their assigned sex at birth) intimate partners experience emotional intimacy. However, emotional intimacy may be critical for relationship health during transition (a person's process of developing a gender expression that matches their gender identity). This study explored how transgender-cisgender couples experience emotional intimacy during their transition process. I explored how each partner emotionally experienced their relationship during transition and how partners communicated about their emotional experiences during their transition process. I analyzed individual interviews with 20 transgender and cisgender participants (ten couples) (Charmaz, 2006). The findings revealed that both transgender and cisgender partners experienced emotional tensions within themselves and within their relationships as they created meaning from their experiences with transitioning. While experiencing tensions, partners chose to either engage or withdraw from communication. Communication ebbed and flowed as partners created meaning for their relationship as they transitioned. Efforts to communicate brought couples closer and strengthened emotional intimacy. Recommendations for research and clinical work with these couples are provided.

The objective of this dissertation study was to investigate the lived experiences of intimacy in married couples in India. The researcher specifically explored the couples' intimacy experiences in six dimensions: emotional closeness and self-disclosure, shared ideas and support, sexual intimacy, relationship skills, commitment and social intimacy. The Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique (ZMET), an innovative method of data collection was used to collect pictures as metaphors from 11 couples (N=22) and the researcher conducted 45-90 minutes in-depth phone interviews. Phenomenological approach was used for data analysis and five themes (description, positive and negative experiences, barriers and strategies used, changes over time and perceived societal norms) provided information on the six dimensions of intimacy. The findings confirmed that intimacy is experienced in married Indian couples in each of the above mentioned dimensions. In addition, when intimacy is experienced they are viewed positively and lack of intimacy is viewed negatively in each dimensions. Couples also perceived barriers to their achievement of intimacy and developed strategies that helped them maintain intimacy in their marriage over time. Gender differences were present, for wives, emotional closeness and self-disclosure was more important, whereas for men, commitment was more important. The findings have implications for marriage education programs and clinicians working with married Indian couples. / Ph. D.

This study has explored how couples raising children on the autism spectrum negotiate intimacy in their marriages/committed partnerships as well as what contextual factors influence these process and how they change over time. Twelve couples currently raising children on the autism spectrum were interviewed conjointly regarding their experiences of intimacy negotiation. A methodological approached based on constructivist grounded theory was used to analyze the data collected from these couples. The results of this study indicate that intimacy negotiation for couples raising children on the autism spectrum is an interactive process in which both partners must work together to make several key cognitive and relational shifts. Couples were either aided or hindered in making these shifts by the degree to which contextual and environmental factors were experienced as resources or roadblocks. The result of the degree to which couples raising children with ASDs navigate the necessary cognitive and relational shifts, also taking into account the influence of any contextual factors on these processes, was found to be a couple's experience of intimacy. However, this study also found that intimacy was not a fixed point at which a couple one day arrived, but was instead an iterative process taking place over time and requiring work to develop and maintain. / Ph. D.

The research done in preparation for this study illustrated that – although a lot of research has been done in terms of the impact of intimacy on marriage, Biblical models for marriage, and the implications of intimacy prior to marriage – few studies have been done regarding researched Scriptural perspectives and pastoral guidelines related to sexual intimacy aimed at religious newlywed couples. The above situation resulted in the main research question: What pastoral guidelines can be given to a newlywed religious couple regarding sexual intimacy in the initial stage of their marriage? Further research questions arose from this research question. This study was aimed at compiling pastoral guidelines regarding the establishment of sexual intimacy in the initial stage of the Christian marriage. The method designed by Zerfass for Practical Theology was used during this study. During basic theoretical research, as designed in chapter 2, it became clear that relevant pastoral guidelines regarding the establishment of sexual intimacy in the Christian marriage can be identified from Scripture. Four guidelines, relevant to this study, were subsequently formulated. The practical theoretical research of the neighbouring sciences Psychology and Sociology in chapter 3 showed that humans are by nature sexual beings and that this is a need that attention should be given to. Sex inside the marriage is necessary, good and an important factor in marital happiness. Seeing as marriage is an intimate and loving relationship, the husband and wife should have each other’s interests and happiness as priority and not deny each other sex and sexual satisfaction. An empirical study to determine religious newlywed couples’ perceptions and attitudes regarding sexual intimacy in the initial stage of the Christian marriage was done in chapter 4. During this qualitative study, seven religious newlywed couples completed questionnaires, after which semi-structured interviews were conducted with each individual. In order to formulate specific practical theoretical pastoral guidelines, the researcher, in chapter 5, addressed the hermeneutical interaction within the context of religious newlywed couples. The basic theoretical perspectives arising from Scripture, practical theoretical perspectives as concluded from neighbouring Sciences, and the results from the empirical study were processed in order to compile possible guidelines for pastoral guidance. The aim of this pastoral guidance is the spiritual growth of both the husband and the wife, and to bring them to a better understanding of God’s will for sexual intimacy. The researcher’s final conclusion – as indicated by the central theoretical argument of this study – is that the compilation of pastoral guidelines regarding the establishment of sexual intimacy in the initial stage of the Christian marriage can indeed contribute to a deeper and more intimate marital relationship. / Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011

A major concern many counselor trainees face when preparing to see their first couple-client is that of confidence because they have had little to no experience in interacting in a professional capacity with couples. Many beginning counselors experience anxiety, which can inhibit their effectiveness with clients (Scanlon & Baille, 1994). Introducing counselor trainees to a relatively non-threatening interaction with couples might reduce the initial anxiety that characterizes the neophyte counselor venturing into new clinical territory. The interaction may also enhance feelings of warmth and closeness of the couples. John Gottman's Oral History Interview (Gottman, 1999) was the protocol used in the interaction between trainee and couple. An instrument developed for this study to measure couple counseling confidence, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1983), and the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships (Schaefer & Olson, 1981) were used to assess levels of counselor confidence, counselor anxiety, and couple intimacy, respectively. The confidence instrument and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered to 37 students who were enrolled in four graduate level introductory couple counseling classes and who interviewed couples, as well as to 34 counselor-trainees who were enrolled in five graduate level counseling courses other than couple counseling and who did not interview couples. Analyses of the quantitative data revealed no statistically significant differences in confidence between trainees who interviewed a couple and trainees who did not interview a couple. Analyses of qualitative data suggested there were differences. The Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships was administered to 67 individual couple participants who were interviewed by counselor trainees, and 35 individual couple participants who were not interviewed by counselor-trainees. Analyses of the quantitative data revealed no statistically significant differences in couples who participated in the Oral History Interview and those who did not. Analyses of qualitative data suggested there were differences. Regarding both counselor confidence and couple intimacy, future research using a larger sample size and more refined quantitative methods appears warranted.

Difficulties developing and maintaining intimate relationships are often attributed to adult children of alcoholics (ACAs). However, the focus of the literature has been on those obtaining psychological treatment and has primarily involved clinical impressions. The purpose of this study was to examine intimacy in the close friendships and love relationships of ACAs. Autonomy and intimacy in respondents' families of origin were also analyzed. Comparisons were made between ACAs currently in (n = 59) and not in (n = 53) therapy, and comparisons who had (n = 48) and had not (n = 77) received therapy. Alcoholics were eliminated. It was hypothesized that ACAs would score significantly lower than comparisons on love and friendship intimacy and autonomy and intimacy in their families of origin. Among the ACAs, those in therapy would score lower than those not in therapy. Hypotheses were tested using MANOVAS. ANOVAs were administered where there were significant differences, and Newman-Keuls contrasts further delineated the divergence. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to obtain explanatory data. The two ACA groups seem to represent distinct populations with those not in therapy failing to report intimacy differences previously ascribed to them. While all of the groups were similar in friendship closeness, only the ACAs in therapy had significantly less intimacy in love relationships. Furthermore, clinical ACAs differed from the other groups by having less family of origin health, more physical and sexual abuse, more maternal drinking, more depression, and more suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Family of origin health predicted intimacy in a love relationship. Family characteristics encompassing honesty, empathy and respect, which may or may not involve alcoholism, seemed to create an atmosphere of faulty parenting in the ACA clinical group which may have subsequently affected the child's intimacy in a love relationship. Results of the study support a developmental model and demonstrate the importance of including nonclinical ACAs as well as clinical comparisons in future research.

Previous research indicates that there are a number of factors that contribute to one’s propensity to engage in cheating. The purpose of the current study was to explore trends in relationships, cheating, and attraction, and to determine the extent to which electronic media influences these. In a self-report survey of 265 participants (217 females; M age 20.9; SD 1.5), it was found that sociosexual orientation and impulsivity were related to past and current cheating, and increased quality of alternatives, diminished commitment and dissatisfaction were associated with current cheating. Impulsivity, quality of alternatives and diminished commitment were also found to be associated with electronic extradyadic intimacy. Finally, diminished commitment and increased perceived quality of alternatives were found to be associated with attraction to close cross-sex friends. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.

The research done in preparation for this study illustrated that – although a lot of research has been done in terms of the impact of intimacy on marriage, Biblical models for marriage, and the implications of intimacy prior to marriage – few studies have been done regarding researched Scriptural perspectives and pastoral guidelines related to sexual intimacy aimed at religious newlywed couples. The above situation resulted in the main research question: What pastoral guidelines can be given to a newlywed religious couple regarding sexual intimacy in the initial stage of their marriage? Further research questions arose from this research question. This study was aimed at compiling pastoral guidelines regarding the establishment of sexual intimacy in the initial stage of the Christian marriage. The method designed by Zerfass for Practical Theology was used during this study. During basic theoretical research, as designed in chapter 2, it became clear that relevant pastoral guidelines regarding the establishment of sexual intimacy in the Christian marriage can be identified from Scripture. Four guidelines, relevant to this study, were subsequently formulated. The practical theoretical research of the neighbouring sciences Psychology and Sociology in chapter 3 showed that humans are by nature sexual beings and that this is a need that attention should be given to. Sex inside the marriage is necessary, good and an important factor in marital happiness. Seeing as marriage is an intimate and loving relationship, the husband and wife should have each other’s interests and happiness as priority and not deny each other sex and sexual satisfaction. An empirical study to determine religious newlywed couples’ perceptions and attitudes regarding sexual intimacy in the initial stage of the Christian marriage was done in chapter 4. During this qualitative study, seven religious newlywed couples completed questionnaires, after which semi-structured interviews were conducted with each individual. In order to formulate specific practical theoretical pastoral guidelines, the researcher, in chapter 5, addressed the hermeneutical interaction within the context of religious newlywed couples. The basic theoretical perspectives arising from Scripture, practical theoretical perspectives as concluded from neighbouring Sciences, and the results from the empirical study were processed in order to compile possible guidelines for pastoral guidance. The aim of this pastoral guidance is the spiritual growth of both the husband and the wife, and to bring them to a better understanding of God’s will for sexual intimacy. The researcher’s final conclusion – as indicated by the central theoretical argument of this study – is that the compilation of pastoral guidelines regarding the establishment of sexual intimacy in the initial stage of the Christian marriage can indeed contribute to a deeper and more intimate marital relationship. / Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011