Lecture Outline (8)
Psychology 137 -- 2004

Professor Marelich


XIII.	Relationship Conflict/Dissolution  

	-Divorce

	Reasons for increase:
	- satisfaction and happiness decline
	- increase in conflict
	- divorce easier to get
	- p. 378 huge listing of reasons

	A.  Vulnerability-stress-adaptation model (Karney & Bradbury)
	    -roots to divorce -- issues from past, childhood,
             adaptation problems

	B.  Steps to separation
		1.  Discovery
		2.  Exposure
		3.  Negotiation
		4.  Transformation
		5.  Grave-dressing

	C.  Aftermath (Ahrons, 1994)
		-fiery foes, angry associates, cooperative colleauges,
  		  perfect pals

	D.  Maintaining Relationships
		- Rusbult (1992) and Responses to Dissatisfaction in
                Relationships
                1.  Exit, Voice, Loyalty, and Neglect typology 
                (has both destructive, constructive,
                active, and passive responses)
		2.  This works well with her Investment Model

	E.      Gottman Work (1994) -- Why Marriages Succeed or Fail
                1.  What makes marriages work?  Key -- must have at
                least 5 times as many positive than negative moments
                together. Suggestive that there is a 'marital ecology'
                at work.  In other words, there is a marital 
                eco-system that needs to be met, with positive and
                negative issues in the mix.

                2.  4 Warning signs in a marriage
                    a.  criticism
                    b.  contempt
                    c.  defensiveness
                    d.  stonewalling

                3.  Clues to success and failure
                    - how couple rewrites their history...how they
                    retell their personal stories.  Failure prone
                    couples will put a negative spin on past events.
                    This has great predictive value

        F.      Gottman's 'Keys' to improving Marriage
                -very communication oriented -- key is what to do 
                 during an argument

                1. Calm down
                2. Speak nondefensively
                3. Validate
                4. Overlearning (doing 1, 2, 3 over again)