Discusses treatment issues in conjoint marital therapy, currently accepted as the preferred format for treating marital difficulties. Describes the use of linear or paradoxical letters to the nonattending spouse, providing research data regarding potential hazards of one-spouse therapy. Sample letters are included. (JAC)

Suggests conjoint reading aloud as an initial assignment in behavioral marital therapy. The spouses are directed to read a book on marital conflict and communication five times during the week following the initial interview. Conjoint reading addresses the experientially salient problems of verbal conflict. (Author/JAC)

Reviews 19 research studies on the Minnesota Couple Communication Program (CCP) which indicates an immediate positive effect on communication behavior and relationship satisfaction. Found CCP does not alter reported levels of self-disclosure or self-esteem. Positive changes persisted in some studies, but evidence of the durability of effects is…

Examined the effects of a structured choice-awareness, marriage enrichment program on participants' marital satisfaction and self-concept. Meaningful trends in the predicted direction of increased marital satisfaction and increased self-concept were noted for the experimental group. (Author)

Describes a treatment program for couples who mishandle anger or are physically abusive. The treatment endorses the elimination of demonstrations of anger and elaborates upon ways to identify preliminary anger cues. Abusiveness is unacceptable. Methods to improve problem-solving skills and to enhance overall enjoyment of the relationship are also…

The personality typologies of couples who sought marital counseling were generally incongruent as determined by Holland codes. The Holland hexagonal model was useful in predicting which spouse would initiate marriage counseling, in obtaining a cognitive understanding of specific conflicts, and in helping couples resolve concerns. (Author)

The Marital Status Inventory (MSI) differentiates effectively between couples seeking marital counseling and couples seeking help with parent-child problems. For all cases, MSI scores were found to relate significantly to husbands' and wives' marital satisfaction in the areas of companionship and sex. (Author)

Investigated the generally neglected effects of the cotrainer relationship in studies of the outcome of couples communication training. Male-female cotrainer pairs modeled verbal dominance patterns similar or dissimilar to those of client couples. Changes in couples' speaking patterns after a two-hour workshop mirrored their trainers' models.…

Presents analyses of data from the National Comorbidity Survey to assess the extent to which problems within marriage spill over to produce work loss. Results indicate that marital distress is positively associated with work loss. Suggests family interventions targeted at prevention of marital problems may result in important psychosocial and…

Identifies and operationalizes construct of attachment injury, an injury that occurs when one partner violates the expectation that the other will offer comfort in times of danger or distress. This incident becomes a clinically recurring theme and creates an impasse that blocks relationship repair in couples therapy. (BF)

Compared a sample of spouses of workaholics and spouses of nonworkaholics on ratings of marital estrangement, positive feelings toward husband, and locus of control. Spouses of workaholics reported greater marital estrangement and less positive affect towards husbands and higher external locus of control than did spouses of nonworkaholics. (BF)

Equal voting rights in marriages enhance the relationship, but it is more difficult to manage, and consequently, there are many failures. Solutions offered include: (1) education as information-giving, often not acted upon; (2) therapy, which can come too late to be effective; and (3) marriage enrichment which applies new knowledge preventively.…

Treated a sample of 77 distressed middle- and lower-class couples using conjoint therapy. Couple and therapist therapy behavior were assessed. A variety of sex and social class differences were found, suggesting that no one marital therapy technique will be appropriate for both sexes and different SES backgrounds. (JAC)

This paper reports on the results of research on attempts to increase the self-understanding and career choice skills of student wives. An experimental group that underwent a workshop was compared to a control group on a number of personality and career scales. The two groups were not significantly different. (NG)

Reviewed experimental evidence for the efficacy of videotape and verbal feedback in behavioral couple therapy. Concluded that research does not permit definitive conclusions concerning either procedure. Evidence indicates that it is difficult to ascertain just how the communication behaviors of happy and distressed couples differ. (Author/JAC)