Two approaches to marital interaction: Relational control patterns in marital types

Abstract

Using the Relational Dimensions Instrument, 80 married individuals were categorized into three basic relational definitions: traditional, independent or separate. The individual definitions of husbands and wives were compared and couple types were constructed. Pure couple types—Traditionais, Independents, and Separates—agreed with their spouse on the definition of the marriage while the Mixed types were comprised of those couples who disagreed on the nature of the relationship. Couples were audiotaped as they discussed both neutral and conflict topics. The tapes were transcribed and coded with a scheme designed to tap relational control messages. Both Markov and lag sequential analysis results indicated that different types of couples used markedly different control strategies in conversations with their spouses. Traditionais relied on complementary interacts in neutral discussions yet shifted to symmetrical ones in conflict; Independent and Mixed couple types used competitive symmetry in both neutral and conflict discussions; Separates employed complementarity regardless of the issue discussed.

Notes

Robin N. Williamson is Assistant Professor of Communication, St. Thomas More College, and Mary Anne Fitzpatrick is Associate Professor of Communication, University of Wisconsin. The authors wish to thank Joseph N. Cappella, University of Wisconsin, and Thomas Putnam, Purdue University, for their invaluable assistance in this project. This article is based on the doctoral dissertation of the first author completed under the direction of the second author.