Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-128).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1960. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-72).

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Also available in print.

Marriage prevention and enhancement programs are vital to the future of society due to their expanded ability to reach many couples that might not otherwise seek help in building the tools necessary for a successful relationship. Because marital distress has been related to many negative long-term health and emotional consequences, preventing these damaging outcomes is a rising priority for psychologists and the health care field. In this study, 55 couples started a secondary marital enhancement and prevention program called SUCCES. The SUCCES program merges multiple interventions from distinct empirically supported couples treatments within a conceptually pluralistic framework. Cognitive behavioral skills development as well as insight and emotion-focused couples therapy techniques are interwoven with each other in the program. Thirty-two couples completed the 9-week intervention and the six-month follow-up assessment period. Although there was no control group, repeated-measures MANOVAs yielded positive results when assessing increases in interpersonal functioning. Couples who participated in the program reported higher levels of satisfaction in broad and specific areas of their relationship upon completion. In addition, couples reported fewer relationship problem areas and an increased quality of life. Almost all increases remained significant at six-month follow-up. These positive initial findings suggest the potential efficacy of the SUCCES program and the importance of future controlled outcome studies to validate its clinical utility.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 273-279).

Members of married and cohabiting couples change through the course of their relationship. Many familiar activities take on new meanings when performed with an intimate partner, or when performed for the partner's benefit. As the relationship progresses, participants often find that their feelings about themselves and about many things around them have changed.

Following a transgression, interpersonal forgiveness is one strategy used to restore harmony between the victim and offender. Research also suggests that forgiveness can promote psychological and physical health. Research has shown that an apology from the offender may facilitate the forgiveness process. The majority of studies suggest that when a victim receives an apology, they experience higher levels of forgiveness toward their offender. The purpose of this thesis was to explore the association between apology and forgiveness in a sample of adults and undergraduate students (N = 803). The results are organized in three sections. First, I found a positive relationship between apology and forgiveness, replicating prior research. Second, I created a new measure of transgression severity, and provided evidence of internal consistency, construct validity, and criterion-related validity for this measure. Third, I tested two variables hypothesized to moderate the association between apology and forgiveness. First, there was some evidence that perceived offender humility moderated the association between simple apology and forgiveness. Offenders who were perceived as being more humble when providing a simple apology were granted more forgiveness than their less humble counterparts. Second, there was some evidence that transgression severity moderated the association between a complete apology and forgiveness, but the effect was in the opposite direction as hypothesized. For individuals who reported a transgression of high severity, there was a stronger association between the completeness of an apology and forgiveness than for individuals who reported a transgression of low severity. I conclude by discussing limitations, areas for future research, and implications for counseling.

Orientador: Francisco Hashimoto / Banca: Rodrigo Sanches Peres / Banca: Marcos Mariani Casadore / Banca: Thássia Souza Emídio / Banca: Mariele Rodrigues Correa / Resumo: O presente estudo discute o vínculo do casal tomando como referência a psicanálise vincular amparada pela psicanálise freudiana. Para tanto, foi necessário um retorno a Freud e auferir que sua obra compõe teorias que envolvem o outro e carrega o gérmen da psicanálise vincular, pois mesmo na sua primeira fase, a metapsicológica, o sujeito não é dissociado das origens e interações. Tendo como premissa a afirmação de que somos constituídos pelos vínculos, o objetivo desse estudo é ressaltar o vínculo do casal como uma construção entre dois. Diante disso, pleiteia-se através dos conceitos da obra freudiana - objeto, identificação e sintoma - distinguir de que forma o encontro entre duas subjetividades implica o reencontro do objeto primário, que se dá pelo processo de identificação e denota o sintoma de cada um. Destarte, ainda que tais pontuações possam sinalizar uma percepção negativa, enfatiza-se que o encontro amoroso contém potência de mudança, possa esta ocorrer ou não. O espaço do entre ou espaço do vínculo é aquele no qual os sujeitos elaboram suas formas de se relacionar, um limite no qual ambos se apropriam de algo mutuamente, mas que também implica entrar em contato com o que não poderá ser incorporado por ser específico do outro. Neste estudo, o espaço do vínculo abordado, para fim de delimitação teórica, foi definido como o do casal heterossexual. A díade-casal é considerada uma unidade extremamente complexa por ser a única ligação de aliança que pressupõe uma ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The current study discusses couples' bonds having as reference the linkage psychoanalysis supported by the Freudian psychoanalysis. In way to achieve this, it was necessary a new approach to Freud's theories, so we could find that his work contemplates the other in the relationship and carries the seed to the linkage psychoanalysis, because even in its initial phase, the metapsychological, the subject is not dissociated from its origins and interactions. Considering as premise the affirmation that we are constituted by our emotional ties, the purpose of this study is to reassure a couple's link as a construction in between the two of them. Therefore, using Freudian work concepts - object, identification and symptom -, we intend to distinguish in what way the encounter between two subjectivities implicates the re-encounter of the first object, which occurs through the identification process and indicates each one's symptoms. Even though such assumptions may indicate a negative perspective, it is emphasized that the loving encounter has potential of change, may it happen or not. The space in between or the link space is that one where the subjects elaborate their way to relate, a limit where both appropriate something mutually, but also where they get in touch with what will not be incorporated as long as it is something specific from the other. In this study, for theoretical delimitation, the link space is the one of heterosexual couples. The couple dyad is considered an ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Thesis advisor: Bernard O'Brien / This study Investigated factors underlying marital stability in twelve working class couples who had been married at least twenty years, and whose youngest child was eighteen or older. A qualitative approach was used to elucidate the meaning of each individual's experience of marriage, with a focus on gender differences. Marriage was conceptualized developmentally in three phases: 1) pre-child rearing; 2) child rearing; and 3) post-child rearing. A semi-structured interview was used to elicit information regarding initial attraction, expectations, roles, communication, problem-solving, handling interpersonal differences, child rearing, intimacy, sexuality, relationship variables (understanding, sensitivity, respect, trust) and equity with regard to each phase. The influence of external factors (finances, ethnicity, culture), religion, and participants' families of origin on the marital relationship were discussed as well. Nine salient themes emerged from the data: initial attraction, expectations, marital behavior (including child rearing), relatedness, values, finances, influence of family of origin, marital satisfaction, and change over time. Relatedness was the core category, encompassing eight other themes: positive regard for the relationship, intimacy, relationship variables (understanding, sensitivity, respect, trust), communication, style of handling interpersonal differences, marital conflict, equity, and sexuality. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 1993. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Education.