Demonstrated the effect of a contingency contracting treatment package for treating a distressed couple. A multi-method assessment package was used. The treatment package was responsible for producing behavior change and changes in levels of satisfaction. Multi-assessments provided the therapist with concrete data on a couple's progress in…

Minimal differences were found in the amount, and direction, of changes. Differences in dissolution rates were found, as expected, but court-ordered counseling did appear to have a positive effect with some couples. (Author)

The no-fault provisions of the California Family Law Act of 1969 recognized the reality of marital breakdown by removing from the substance and language of the law its strong overtones of moral condemnation. The divorce rate itself remained unaffected. The frequency of spousal support awards declined significantly. (Author/JAC)

The reinforcers that are most potent in affecting the day-to-day satisfaction levels of married couples differ according to the level of distress. Marital distress is characterized by a tendency to react strongly to the delivery of punishers and to respond in kind. (Author)

Presents a form of insight therapy based upon systems theory and suggests that this has much to offer in marital therapy. Categories of relationship problems with which a couples therapist must deal are described. (Author)

Subjects were 27 married couples. The purposes of this study were: (a) to implement an interpersonal-skills training paradigm for training married individuals to exhibit increased self-disclosive behavior in their marital relationships; and (b) to determine the efficacy of experiential and modeling procedures in such training. (Author)

Examined perspective-taking differences among 259 individuals in high- and 43 individuals in low-adjustment marriages. Four hypotheses were tested that demonstrated that females in high- and low-adjustment marriages did not differ in their perspective-taking ability with others in general. Males and females in high- and low-adjustment groups did…

Describes investigation of ways in which combat decreases marital quality and stability. Results support three models: (1) factors propelling men into combat also make them poor marriage material; (2) combat causes problems that increase marital adversity; and (3) combat intensifies premilitary stress and antisocial behavior which then negatively…

Evaluated effectiveness of marital therapy designed to enhance intimacy through self-disclosure of personal constructs. Couples in therapy (n=22) and controls (n=19) showed significant reduction in symptoms of nonpsychotic emotional illness. Couples in therapy subjectively reported improvement. Found significant pattern of improvement for wives in…

Reports on a group treatment model designed for individuals (N=44) in the predivorce stage of divorcing. Results indicate that the model had meaningful impact on individuals' anger, attachment, and ambivalence, suggesting that group treatment designed specifically for predivorced individuals can be effective in the early stages of divorce. (RJM)

Discusses the pursuer-distancer relationship style so as to help counselors recognize this type of interaction and offers several treatment techniques to alleviate it. Demonstrates the relationship between the concepts of parentification and childlike behavior and the pursuer and the distancer. Uses an integrative model of marital therapy as a…

Several theorists have advocated marital therapy in treatment programs for alcoholics. Given the promise of marital therapy for alcoholics, it is important to develop successful techniques for recruitment. One approach toward improving recruitment is to identify the characteristics of couples who are likely to accept or reject marital therapy.…

A pattern common to marital breakdown and divorce is described in which one partner seeks closeness and reassurance while the other desires separateness and independence. The roots of these dynamics in the spouses' families of origin are discussed. Recommendations for family therapy are treated briefly. (Author)

Frequently the motive for divorce is neurotic. This paper calls attention to one such motive: reaction to disappointment by a significant parent-in-law, which may go unnoticed by both the therapist and the patient who has come for help at the time when the marriage is disintegrating. (Author)

Two hypotheses related to the conceptualization of marriage as an interaction relationship and marital dysfunction as interpersonal pathology were tested empirically with first-married couples (N=30) asking specifically for marital counseling. Data analysis revealed support for the second but not the first hypothesis. (Author)