Circumplex Model of Marital Systems: An Empirical Study of Clinic and Non‐clinic Couples

The interaction processes of twenty-five couples receiving marriage counseling were compared with a control group of twenty-five couples not receiving counseling. The study was a partial test of a circumplex model of marital and family systems. The major variable was adaptability. Creativity and support were also examined. The study also sought to evaluate the usefulness of the principal instrument, SIMFAM, as a behavioral indicator of marital adjustment and an assessment tool for marriage and family counselors. Under stressful circumstances, there was evidence that better adjusted couples have a more equalitarian leadership (relative control) pattern. A combination of high support and equalitarian leadership was especially characteristic of NC (non-clinic) couples. NC couples were significantly more creative, more supportive and more responsive to each other's attempts to influence each other (control efficiency) than clinic couples.

[1]  J. Gottman,et al.  The topography of marital conflict: A sequential analysis of verbal and nonverbal behavior. , 1977 .

[2]  D. Sprenkle.  The Need for Integration Among Theory, Research, and Practice in the Family Field. , 1976 .

[3]  D. Olson,et al.  Tools and techniques for diagnosis and evaluation in marital and family therapy. , 1976, Family process.

[4]  E. S. Wertheim.  The Science and Typology of Family Systems II. Further Theoretical and Practical Considerations , 1975 .

[5]  G. Birchler,et al.  A behavioral analysis of problem solving in distressed and nondistressed married and stranger dyads. , 1975 .

[6]  G. Birchler,et al.  Multimethod analysis of social reinforcement exchange between maritally distressed and nondistressed spouse and stranger dyads. , 1975 .

[7]  M. Straus,et al.  Marital Power and Marital Happiness in Relation to Problem-Solving Ability. , 1974 .

[8]  M. Straus.  Leveling, Civility, and Violence in the Family. , 1974 .

[9]  Melvin L. Wilkinson.  An Information-Related Systems Theory of Counseling* , 1973 .

[10]  J. Riskin,et al.  AN EVALUATIVE REVIEW OF FAMILY INTERACTION RESEARCH , 1972 .

[11]  D. Olson,et al.  A Diagnostic Tool for Marital and Family Therapy: The SIMFAM Technique. , 1972 .

[12]  R. Hill.  Modern systems theory and the family : A confrontation* , 1971 .

[13]  B. Raven,et al.  Conjugal Power Structure: A Re-Examination. , 1971 .

[14]  C. Safilios-rothschild.  The study of family power structure: A review 1960-1969. , 1970 .

[15]  M. W. Hicks,et al.  Marital happiness and stability: A review of the research in the sixties. , 1970 .

[16]  D. Speer.  Family Systems: Morphostasis and Morphogenesis, or “Is Homeostasis Enough?” , 1970 .

[17]  J. Becker,et al.  Conflict and dominance within families of disturbed children. , 1969, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[18]  Daniel R. Miller,et al.  Family Teamwork and Psychotherapy , 1966 .

[19]  Virginia Satir,et al.  Conjoint Family Therapy , 1964 .

[20]  D. V. Caputo.  The Parents of the Schizophrenic , 1963 .

[21]  J. Bell.  Recent advances in family group therapy. , 1962, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[22]  D. Jackson,et al.  Conjoint family therapy. Some considerations on theory, technique, and results. , 1961, Psychiatry.

[23]  Mervyn L. Cadwallader.  The Cybernetic Analysis of Change in Complex Social Organizations , 1959, American Journal of Sociology.

[24]  H. Locke,et al.  SHORT MARITAL ADJUSTMENT AND PREDICTION TESTS: THEIR RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY , 1959 .