Promotion, Enhancement and Repair of Relationships Flashcards
Relationship
Maintenance
Mechanisms
Strategic actions people take
to sustain their partnerships
Cognitive Mechanisms/enhancement estrategies
- Cognitive Interdependence
o Think of themselves as a couple
-ex:i went to miami vs we went to miami -
Positive Illusions
-focus on the good qualities rather then bad one -
Perceived Relational Superiority
-think ur relationship is better - Inattention to Alternatives
-
Derogation of Alternatives
– ex: others are not as cute as my partner
Behavioral Mechanisms
- Willingness to Sacrifice
- Prayer (for partner) - literally
- Michaelangelo Phenomenon
- Support partner’s growth
and development - Accommodation
- Self-control
- Play
- Savoring
- Pay attention to shared pleasures
Behavioral
Mechanisms
continued
- Rituals
- Private customs symbolizing couple
identity - Forgiveness
- Positivity
- Providing Assurances
- Sharing Tasks
- Openness
- Sharing thoughts/feelings
Personal Education
Challenges:
* Authors write in an engaging way rather than provide solid coverage of information
- Books are written for general relationships - problems/solutions are not specific to the individual situation
- Often lack explicit directions on what to do
- Don’t provide assessment, feedback or encouragement on new behaviors
- Encourage people to satisfy their own needs without regard for the impact of one’s behavior on others
Personal Negotiation
- Identify trouble spots
- Create rules for fair fighting
- Create quality time
Support
Networks
Participate in formal or informal
networks where problems can
be discussed
Marital Enrichment
Programs
Enhance couple growth
Couples are supposed to attend together
- Examples: Couples Communication Program, Saving Marriages Before they Start program
Couples who participate in pre-marital programs are ½ as likely to break up over the next 3 years
Family Enrichment
Programs
Encourage entire families to improve relationships
- E.g., STEP “Systematic Training for Effective Parenting”
Evaluation of these programs:
* Need commitment of both partners
- May have detrimental effects if the couple is distressed (it is meant for well-functioning families - to improve their skills) - only good when they are in a good place
- Some decline in skills learned over time
Improving
and
Repairing Relationships
Therapeutic Approaches:
For families in crisis/pain
Common
Types of
Therapy
good to have their own therapists and couples therapy
Psychodynamic
Rogerian
Systems
Behavioral
Cognitive
Emotion
Psychodynamic
Therapy
Therapist is the
doctor/expert
Provides insight into
unconscious conflicts
(stemming from
childhood)
expensive
Rogerian Therapy
- MUST KNOW AND ACCEPT SELF
- THERAPIST PROVIDES UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD
Systems
Therapy
- Problems stem from the larger family (rather than individual)
- Emphasize family communication patterns
- record/film family behvaiour to understand conflicts
Behavioral Therapy
Positive reinforcement is key
- Try to enhance reinforcement (through teaching
communication and problem-solving skills) - Shape more effective behaviors (through modeling,
feedback and reinforcement)
Example: Integrative Behavioral Couple
Therapy
* Teach troubled partners to accept the
incompatibilities they cannot change
* Using empathy, detachment, and tolerance building
