A marriage is the creation of a new family by bringing together two distinct people from individual and very distinctly different backgrounds. The bringing together of two different people often can cause conflict. Merging families can also create a harmonious relationship of balance and teamwork if both of their differences and similarities compliment each other. After conducting an interview with Darlene and Mike Smith it became very evident that theirs was a seemingly balanced and harmonious relationship. The interview asked questions about how things like their backgrounds, challenges together, boundaries, family interactions, and spirituality have developed into a family and marriage relationship that successfully navigates through life together.
Background
The Process of the Interview
The couple walked into the interview with a very happy demeanor, which seemed to set the tone for the remainder of our conversation. Their happiness clearly showed by sitting very close to each other on the couch with their arms around each other. Mike shared jokingly that he felt like he was in a shrink’s office because of the blue couch. His lightheartedness helped keep things comfortable. The interview began by asking them some detailed background information about their individual family upbringing and experiences. Out of respect to their time constraints they were each given a printed out a copy of the interview schedule and asked to spend a few minutes answering the individual background questions. Portions of the background questions were retrieved from “Life Review Interview Questions (Lewis and Massing 2000). They then shared what they deemed relevant from their answers. After some discussion about background section, the interview...
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...limentary individuals. Having clearly defined family boundaries, complimenting each other’s strengths and weaknesses, while being guided by and supported in Christian faith, they continue to navigate through life together.
Works Cited
Bradbury, T., Engl, J., Hahlweg, K., Rogge, D., & Thurmaier F. (2006) Predicting Marital
Distress and Dissolution: Refining the Two-Factor Hypothesis. Journal of Family
Psychology. Vol. 20, No. 1, 156–159.
Keller, James F. Prest, Layne A., (1993) Spirituality and Family Therapy: Spiritual Beliefs, ` Myths, and Metaphors. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Vol. 19 No. 2,137-148.
Lewis R. Massing P. (2000). Life Review Interview Questions, Learning Place Online.com
O’Brien, M. Peyton, V. (2002). Parenting Attitudes and Marital Intimacy: A Longitudinal Analysis. Journal of Family Psychology Vol. 16 No. 2, 118-127.
Marriage is something most people do but few do it well. If a couple is not looking at divorce papers that are probably seeking marriage counseling. If they are not screaming to the top of their lungs at each other they are probably sneaking out to lie in someone else’s arms. If they are not physically abusing one or the other they are probably being mentally abusive. If a couple is not saying hurtful things to each other they are probably not saying anything at all because why would they when the other is not going to listen anyways. We have all been in or seen relationships struggle with these kinds of things. This big question is where did they go wrong? I think the answer to that question lies in Matt Chandler’s book The Mingling of Souls. Chandler’s answer to the question above is that if a couple wants to have a truly successful marriage they must follow God’s design for marriage. Now Chandler is in no way implying that a couple will not struggle if they do it God’s way but they will be able to get through those struggles together. This review is not a summary of the book but it will discuss the strength and weaknesses of
Marriage is the union of love, friendship, patient, and comprehension. Although nowadays marriage has a lot of diversity, we should accept everyone and respect their choices, meaning that if they get marry or decide to live together to see if their relationship work.
DeVault, C., Cohen, T., & Strong, B. (2011). The marriage and family experience: Intimate relationships in a changing society. (11th ed., pgs. 400-426). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth cengage learning.
Research of literature depends on the theory or topic one is researching. Research uncovers what the author knows about his or her discipline and its practices. Augustus Napier is a family therapist with vast experience in family therapeutic processes and experiential therapy with couples. In my research of his background, I reviewed his book “The Family Crucible.” In this text, Dr. Napier chronicles the therapeutic process of one fictitious family (which is a composite of real cases) experiencing marital discord. In reviewing the case studies in this book, I gained insight into his style of the therapeutic process, which exposed Dr. Napier’s framework which leads to his assumptions about marriage. The details of this case study coupled with Dr. Napier’s added paragraphs and chapters of analyses with his conclusions on the maladaptive reasons people marry other people make this resource of great qualitative value. Additionally, useful evaluative data revealing a deeper insight into Dr. Napier’s position on irreconcilable differences can be fo...
Within his book The Smart Stepfamily: 7 Steps to a Healthy Family, Ron Deal (2014) presents a realistic approach to strengthening stepfamilies through focusing on each individual family member’s needs. Real-world scenarios along with integrating family therapy and biblical truth are used in exploring the many issues that stepfamilies resolve. The crux of Deal’s advice is the need to modify expectations from forming a rapidly blended family to integrating a slow-cooked approach that allows for the time and the coarse hardships that are experienced in developing a healthy stepfamily relationships.
Kaakinen, Gedaly-Duff, Coehlo & Hanson, (2010) report family is the biggest resource for managing care of individuals with chronic illness; family members are the main caregivers and provide necessary continuity of care. Therefore, it is important for health care providers to develop models of care based on an understanding what families are going through (Eggenberger, Meiers, Krumwiede, Bliesmer, & Earle, 2011). The family I chose to interview is in the middle of a transition in family dynamics. I used the family as a system approach as well as a structure-function theoretical framework to the effects of the changes in dynamic function. Additionally, the combinations of genogram, ecomap, adaptations of the Friedman Family Assessment model as well as Wright & Leahey’s 15 minute family interview were utilized.
Marriage is a commitment that couples vow to love each other, and committed during their toughest times. Chris Offutt, the author of the short story called "Aunt Granny Lith" explains the trials and choices in a marriage between the couple Beth and Casey. Three parts in marriage are vital: communication, trust in one another, and unconditional love. All three elements will lead to a successful marriage. Marriage is what you put into your relationship not what you can get out of it. It is a team effort. Couples shouldn 't give 50/50 they should give 100/100 effort into marriage. Offutt describes these three parts throughout the story.
Marriage in the United States is thought to be a very important event because it is the celebration of two people professing their love for each other, and vowing to be with one another for the rest of their lives. Although each person vows that they will support each other no matter the situation, sometimes that are certain obstacles that will pull two people apart. In Chosen Place, Timeless People by Paul Marshall, Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje, and King Lear by William Shakespeare, it is shown that although marriage is often seen as a sacred thing, sometimes marriage is not as solid as everyone may think it is, and that it may actually break very easily. Marriage connects two people together, but it may not last forever.
Marriage is the beginning of family life, culmination of a period of seeking a mate, and realization of a major goal.
Schwartz, M.A. and Scott, B.M., Marriages and Families: Diversity and Change Third Edition. 2000. Prentice Hall: 116-121.
The person I chose to interview was my friend Deborah Hodges (Debbie). One of the reasons for interviewing her was that we had not been in contact for several months and I saw this as a great opportunity to talk to her once again. We both live a very busy life and find it difficult to meet up like we used to do since I started school in 2012. Debbie and I met 17 years ago at the church that I had been attending since 1994. Shortly after meeting, we became the best of friends and we were inseparable until she had to move away to the far end of Portland, Oregon. I consider her more like a sister rather than a friend. Debbie enjoys spending as much time as she can with her family and friends when she is not working. She has such a gentle spirit
Marriage and family life has been changing over the past few decades. Not only has the idea of family and marriage changed, but the way marriage and family are perceived has changed. With the transition from modern times to postmodern times, the typical life has developed in to more of an isolated society, than ever before. The concept of unity and close ties has become almost nonexistent, with the development and progression of technology. Communication has become less personal and less intimate, eliminating the idea of creativity. With the elimination of creativity, because of the development of less personal communication, the chances of meeting someone has become less personal and mo...
As a society to better understand our own families and families around the world we pose questions to start the process of research. As research becomes available they either challenge or confirm developed grounded theories. Grounded theories as explained in the textbook, The Marriage and Family Experience: Intimate Relationships In a Changing Society twelfth edition, as inductive observations of specific, concrete details.(Strong, B, & Cohen,2014,39) There is two levels of theories macro-level theories and micro-level theories. This essay will discuss the meaning of each level of theory and theories that fall under the levels scope, compare and contrast the positive and negative reactions and identify my favorite theory and how the information
At no point in life can you be perfect at anything, but you can prepare yourself for the adventures of life. One of life’s biggest challenges is marriage. Marriage requires preparation emotionally and spiritually. Marriage is considered to be one of the hardest aspects of life to control. Merging two different customary lifestyles into one can be difficult especially since the feelings of both are involved. I have learned both the numerous ways to destroy and build a successful marriage. Marriage is the union of man and woman becoming as one flesh according to God’s law and the law of the land.
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