RAM Dissertation
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A QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP ATTACHMENT MODEL (RAM) WITH MARRIED INDIVIDUALS A Dissertation Presented to The Graduate Faculty of The University of Akron In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Morgan C. Van Epp Cutlip August, 2013 A QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP ATTACHMENT MODEL (RAM) WITH MARRIED INDIVIDUALS Morgan C. Van Epp Cutlip Dissertation Approved: Accepted: Advisor Department Chair Dr. John Queener Dr. Karin Jordan Committee Member Associate Dean of the College Dr. Susan I. Hardin Dr. Susan J. Olson Committee Member Dean of the Graduate School Dr. David Tokar Dr. George R. Newkome Committee Member Date Dr. Ingrid Weigold Committee Member Dr. Francis Broadway ii ABSTRACT The current study explored the theoretical underpinnings of the Relationship Attachment Model, an alternative model to understanding closeness in relationships, using deductive qualitative analysis (DQA; Gilgun, 2010). Qualitative data from married couples was used to explore whether the five bonding dynamics (i.e. know, trust, rely, commit, and sex), proposed by the RAM, existed in their marital relationships. Additionally, this study examined whether the RAM could explain fluctuations in closeness and distance in the couple’s marriage and how married couples described and talked about love in their relationship. The findings of this research indicated that the five bonding dynamics put forth by the RAM did exist in marital relationships of these couples and that the complicated dynamics that occur in marital relationships could be captured on the RAM. This research supported findings from past research on close relationships and added to the literature by proposing another model to understanding and conceptualizing close relationship dynamics. The findings of this study are discussed in terms of implications for therapists who work with couples and relationship researchers. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost I would like to thank my parents for their unwavering support throughout my doctoral studies. I am so grateful that you welcomed me back home during my schooling. Being able to live at home made life in a Ph.D. program completely bearable, not to mention possible. Dad thank you for your mentorship throughout my life and my schooling. Our conversations about school, research, work, therapy, philosophy, etc. have meant the world to me. I have so appreciated the way you always have time for me and regardless of what I’ve wanted from you, I’ve always felt like a priority. Mom, thank you for your endless supply of pep talks…how do you always know what to say? I am so grateful and appreciative for your support and your cooking during my studies. You always have and continue to take such incredible care of me. Thank you. I would also like to thank my sister, Jessica, for making my school events a big deal. I still carry around the card you gave me when I proposed my dissertation. You have always been so incredibly thoughtful. Thank you. To Chad, my husband, thank you for understanding and supporting me when I needed to work on my dissertation. You were part of the tail end of my Ph.D. program which was probably the most taxing and difficult part of my academic career. Thank you for listening to me gripe and comforting me when I was feeling like it would never come iv to an end. Your humor, heart, and spirit have made this process so much easier. I love you and I can’t wait until you have to call me doctor. I want to give a special thank you to my advisor, Dr. John Queener, and my dissertation committee members, Dr. Ingrid Weigold, Dr. Susan Hardin, Dr. David Tokar, and Dr. Francis Broadway. Thank you for your quick turnarounds and thoughtful comments and suggestions through this process. I am so grateful and appreciative. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. x LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER I. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Background ..................................................................................................................... 1 Theoretical Foundations for the Study ............................................................................ 8 Statement of the Problem .............................................................................................. 13 Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................................... 14 Definition of Key Terms ............................................................................................... 14 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 15 II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ............................................................................. 17 Love ............................................................................................................................... 18 Intimacy ......................................................................................................................... 27 Attachment .................................................................................................................... 37 Summary of Past Perspectives ...................................................................................... 43 The Relationship Attachment Model (RAM) ............................................................... 47 Know ................................................................................................................................ 48 Trust ...................................................................................................................... 55 vi Rely ....................................................................................................................... 59 Commitment ......................................................................................................... 63 Touch/Sex ............................................................................................................. 68 An Overview of the Relationship Attachment Model (RAM) ................................. 71 Propositions of the RAM ...................................................................................... 72 The Utility of the RAM for Couples ..................................................................... 79 Culture and the RAM ............................................................................................ 81 The Current Study ......................................................................................................... 83 III. METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................... 85 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 85 Quantitative vs. Qualitative Approaches to Research ................................................... 86 Appropriateness of Qualitative Research for this Study ............................................... 87 Research Paradigm ........................................................................................................ 88 Research Design ............................................................................................................ 89 Participants and Sampling Procedures .......................................................................... 90 Procedures ..................................................................................................................... 91 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................ 95 Subjectivity.................................................................................................................... 98 Researcher Bias .............................................................................................................. 98 Trustworthiness ............................................................................................................. 99 Subjectivity and Reflexivity ............................................................................... 101 Adequacy of Data ............................................................................................... 102 Adequacy of Interpretation ................................................................................. 102 vii Summary ..................................................................................................................... 103 IV. RESULTS ................................................................................................................ 104 Introduction to the Participants ................................................................................... 104 Married Couple 1: H1 and W1 ............................................................................ 106 Married Couple 2: H2 and W2 ............................................................................ 108 Married Couple 3: H3 and W3 ............................................................................ 111 Married Couple 4: H4 and W4 ............................................................................ 113 Summary