Chapter 10

1.) Chapter 10 is titled “Marriage and Communication in Intimate Relationships.” It discusses:

· Why People Marry

· Right Reasons for Getting Married

· Love and Companionship

· Children

· Adult Identity

· Commitment and Personal Fulfillment

· Continuity and Permanence

· Some Wrong Reasons for Getting Married

· Social Legitimacy

· Social Pressure

· Economic Security

· Rebellion or Revenge

· Practical Solutions to Problems

· What We Expect from Marriage

· Marriage Rituals

· Engagement

· The Wedding

· Love and Prenuptial Agreements

· Types of Marriages

· In the U.S.

· Cross-Cultural Variations

· Marital Success and Happiness

· Are Married Couples Happy?

· What’s Important in a Successful Marriage?

· Compatibility

· Flexibility

· Positive Attitudes

· Communication and Conflict Resolution

· Emotional Support

· How Marriage Affects Health

· Health Benefits of Marriage

· Gender and Health

· Marital Quality and Health

· Marital Burnout

· Marital Roles

· “His and Her Marriage”

· Variations in Domestic Roles

· Domestic Roles and Marital Quality

· How Marriages Change Throughout the Life Course

· Early Years

· Marriage and Children

· Marriage at Midlife

· Marriage in Later Life

· Communication: A Key to Successful Relationships

· What is Good Communication?

· Sex Differences in Communication

· Communication Problems

· Power and Conflict in Relationships

· What do Couples Fight About?

· Money

· Housework

· Fidelity and Sex

· Children

· How Couple Deal with Conflict

· Productive Communication Patterns

· Improving Your Communication Style

· Family Therapy and Marriage and Relationship Programs

2.) I was interested to read about how in some Scandinavian countries, some LAT (living apart together) couples moved apart to save the relationship. They claim, “too many quarrels and too much irritation would have made the relationship deteriorate.” It’s interesting to me because I would say that they shouldn’t be together if they feel that their relationship would deteriorate if they were together (in person). I was also surprised to read that the Guiness World Record for longest engagement is 67 years.

It was interesting to read the little section (on page 278) about Del Martin, 87, and Phyllis Lyon, 84. They had been together for more than 50 years and they were the first to marry in California in June 2008 when the state allowed same-sex marriages. Their story made me think about what it must have been like for them during the times when homosexuality was somewhat taboo in our society.

3.) On page 268, there is a graph titled “Percentage of Married Americans Age 18 and Older Who Said That Their Marriages Are ‘Very Happy,’ by Period.” The percentages fluctuate, but the line for women is always below the men’s line. Why do you feel that women are unhappier in their marriages than men?