Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Although couples are often aware of the importance of communication, they are unable to implement effective communication skills. Couples can be assisted to improve their communication and the quality of their relationship by attending a marriage enrichment programme. While research shows that enrichment programmes do help couples to learn and maintain relationship skills, longer-term effectiveness seems limited, with effects dissipating over time. Researchers concerned with the long-term sustainability of improvements have recognised the value of post-intervention booster programmes. The Imago Getting The Love You Want Workshop for Couples (GTLYW Workshop) is an enrichment programme for couples interested in improving the quality of their relationship. The workshop is based on the theory and principles of Imago Relationship Therapy. Imago theory provides a relational approach to and framework for understanding the dynamics and interaction of the couple dyad, as well as a dialogical process crucial for the deep communication and growth that are essential to achieve healing and wholeness. Couples learn crucial communication skills by means of a structured communication technique, the Couples Dialogue. The GTLYW Workshop is under-researched when compared to other enrichment programmes. This research attempted to answer the question of whether or not couples who have attended the GTLYW Workshop experienced improvements in aspects of their communication and the quality of their relationship, and whether improvements were sustained over time. Based on a philosophy of pragmatism, a mixed-methods research approach was adopted, including a dominant quantitative method and a nested qualitative method. A longitudinal design incorporated a pre-workshop, a three- to four-week post-workshop, and three-month follow-up measures. Repeated measures ANOVA procedures and Pearson product-moment correlations addressed quantitative objectives. Aspects of communication that were measured were perceptions of communication ability (Primary Communication Inventory), communication patterns (Communication Patterns Questionnaire), and relational awareness (Relational Awareness Scale). The quality of the relationship was assessed using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Thematic analysis, using a phenomenological approach, addressed qualitative objectives Within the limitations of this study, the findings provided: some evidence of short-term improvements in some aspects of communication and the relationship; some evidence for the dissipation of improvements three months later; some evidence for the need for follow-up or booster sessions after the workshop; and evidence of positive changes after the workshop. Although there is evidence of the short-term effectiveness of marriage enrichment programmes, it is the longer-term maintenance of improvements and skills that is paramount for the effectiveness and credibility of marriage enrichment programmes. Given what research has found with regard to the dissipating effects of marriage enrichment programmes, the need for booster programmes, difficulties in teaching communication skills, and the potential risk to couples (post-workshop) of deteriorating communication skills, it would be wise for practitioners and educators, as they plan and run enrichment programmes, to also place emphasis on “what happens after the workshop”. The results of this research offer an opportunity for Imago practitioners and educators to review ways of assisting couples to sustain improvements over the longer term after they have attended the GTLYW Workshop.

In this study, a computerized marriage enrichment program that gave couples instruction on communication skills and problem-solving was developed and tested. Couples completed the marriage enrichment courseware together on a computer. Forty couples from a metropolitan area in North Texas volunteered to complete the marriage enrichment courseware. Ten couples were randomly assigned to each of the following four groups: an experimental group that received the pretest followed by treatment and a post-test, a control-wait group that completed pre- and post-tests, an experimental group that received treatment followed by a post-test, and a post-test only control-wait: group. Three hypotheses were generated predicting that experimental subjects would significantly increase their marital communication skills following the treatment and that wives in the pre-test and experimental groups would achieve higher marital communication scores than would husbands. The dependent variable was the score on the Marital Communication Inventory (Bienvenu, 1970). Analyses of variance did not reveal any differences between husbands, wives, and couples at the pre- or post-tests. A three way analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect for treatment (p < .04), but no interaction effects were found. In related findings, a t-test on the post-test minus pre-test difference for wife's scores was significant beyond the .005 level of confidence. Pearson product-moment correlations between the amount of time spent on the marriage enrichment courseware and posttest scores suggested that couples who spent more time completing the program were more likely to achieve higher scores. A regression analysis confirmed the significance of time spent on increased post-test scores (p < .0085). Based on these findings, it seems appropriate to conclude that computerized marriage enrichment courseware is a promising approach for couples who spend at least two hours completing the material.

Among other images, Scripture uses marriage as a picture of God's relationship to his people. Scripture also prescribes numerous ways for that people to build their relationship with him. In order to give Christian marriages as many tools as possible for bolstering of the relationship, this dissertation examines narrative, symbol, ritual, and memorials as a selection of Scripture's methods for "heart writing" or relationship building. These methods correspond to various uses of the Hebrew root zakhar, for "remember." Following the examination of Scripture's methods of "heart writing" through the use of narrative, symbol, and ritual, contemporary understandings of the physiological and neurological underpinnings for the deep internalization of relationship. The ideas presented in the first two chapters were explored in an empirical study which found that couples who utilize more narrative, symbols, rituals, and memorials in their marriages tend to also see their marriages as more sacred and experience the manifestation of God within the marriage. Groups were also compared on levels of physiological responsiveness (skin conductance, skin temperature, and interbeat interval) as a measure of emotional engagement during an interview that lead couples in discussion of narratives, symbols, and rituals in their marriages. Husbands in marriages that utilized few narratives, symbols, and rituals were the least emotionally responsive during the interview while wives in the same type of marriage were the most emotionally responsive. This dissertation concludes by translating some of the principles discovered into various methods of writing the marital relationship on the hearts of the individuals to build Christian marriages. / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.

Project (D. Min.)--Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-129).

Project Thesis (D. Min.)--Denver Seminary, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 207-214).

Thesis (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1999. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-79).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 203-209).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, Ill., 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 169-177).

No description available.

Thesis (M.A.)--Cincinnati Bible Seminary, 1988. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-158).