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An Integrative Model of Marital Therapy Based on the Psychoanalytic Behavioral and Systems Approaches Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Dissertations Graduate College 4-1985 An Integrative Model of Marital Therapy Based on the Psychoanalytic Behavioral and Systems Approaches Dennis L. Mulder Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the Applied Behavior Analysis Commons Recommended Citation Mulder, Dennis L., "An Integrative Model of Marital Therapy Based on the Psychoanalytic Behavioral and Systems Approaches" (1985). Dissertations. 2349. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/2349 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL OF MARITAL THERAPY BASED ON THE PSYCHOANALYTIC. BEHAVIORAL AND SYSTEMS APPROACHES by Denni s L . Mulder A dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Department of Counseling and Personnel Western Mi chigan. University Kalamazoo, Michigan April 1985 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL OF MARITAL THERAPY BASED ON THE PSYCHOANALYTIC, BEHAVIORAL AND SYSTEMS APPROACHES Dennis L. Mulder, Ed.D. Western Michigan University, 1985 The Integrative Model of marital therapy is a synthesis of the theoretical constructs of the psychoanalytic, behavioral and systems approaches.. Relevant literature of the selected approaches is reviewed. The concepts of marriage, marital conflict and marital therapy of each approach are described. The Integrative Model is based on three assumptions and six propositions. The Integrative Model attempts to interpret the intrapsychic dynamics of intimate relationships in a data language suitable for empirical study. It attempts to define the relationship between internal and external determinants of behavior. It proposes a method of intervention consistent with the cognitive/behavioral conceptual model and procedures for perceptual/ behavioral change. The conceptual formula for the Integrative Model is R = f (P-^) (P2) which reads that a marital relationship is the function of the interaction of two evolving individuals within an environmental context. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INFORMATION TO USERS This reproduction was made from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this document, the quality of the reproduction is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help clarify markings or notations which may appear on this reproduction. 1.The sign or “ target” for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is “Missing Page(s)” . If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting through an image and duplicating adjacent pages to assure complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a round black mark, it is an indication of either blurred copy because of movement during exposure, duplicate copy, or copyrighted materials that should not have been filmed. For blurred pages, a good image of the page can be found in the adjacent frame. If copyrighted materials were deleted, a target note will appear listing the pages in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., is part of the material being photographed, a definite method of “sectioning” the material has been followed. It is customary to begin filming at the upper left hand comer of a large sheet and to continue from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. If necessary, sectioning is continued again—beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. For illustrations that cannot be satisfactorily reproduced by xerographic means, photographic prints can be purchased at additional cost and inserted into your xerographic copy. These prints are available upon request from the Dissertations Customer Services Department. 5. Some pages in any document may have indistinct print. In all cases the best available copy has been filmed. University Microfilms International 300 N. Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 8517453 Mulder, Dennis L. AN INTEGRATIVE MODEL OF MARITAL THERAPY BASED ON THE PSYCHOANALYTIC, BEHAVIORAL AND SYSTEMS APPROACHES Western Michigan University Ed.D. 1985 University Microfilms International 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 Copyright 1985 by Mulder, Dennis L. All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © 1985 DENNIS L. MULDER All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am deeply indebted to my wife, Sally for her constant and faithful support throughout this venture. I also wish to acknowledge the guidance and assistance of Dr. Edward L. Trembley and Patti Carlson. Dennis L. Mulder i i Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © 1985 DENNIS L. MULDER All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 11 LIST OF FIGURES iv CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ 4 O ve rvie w ...................................................................12 II. OVERVIEW OF SELECTED APPROACHES AND LITERATURE...................................................................17 Psychoanalytic Approach ..................................17 The Behavioral Approach .............................63 The Systems A pproach .......................................94 III. THE INTEGRATIVE MODEL........................................................120 E v a lu a tio n .............................................................120 Assumptions .............................................................130 Propos i ti on s ........................................................134 Proposition 1 ....................................................135 Proposition 2 ....................................................141 Proposition 3 ....................................................145 Proposition 4 ....................................................147 Proposition 5 ....................................................150 Proposition 6 ....................................................155 IV. EVALUATION AND SUMMARY................................................165 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................... 177 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF FIGURES 1. Interpersonal interaction in an environmental co n te xt ..............................................135 2. The interaction of cognitive schemas and the interpersonal ............................................................142 3. Interactions between persons based on cognitive schemas ..............................................144 4. Intervention of the marital system by environmental forces .................................................... 153 i v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Marriage is a process involving two individuals who have complex and ever changing sets of beliefs and behaviors. Consequently, continuous and perfect harmony in a marriage relationship is virtually impossible. Regardless of whether it is experienced frequently or infrequently, conflict is probably an inherent and inevitable consequence of two individuals engaging in a close, intimate relationship such as marriage. (Huber, 1984, p. 71) Marriage, marital discord and therapeutic intervention are the focii of this study. The inevitability of marital conflict requires an acceptable conceptual framework for the understanding of what marriage is, what are the causes of marital disharmony, and what are the means of a therapeutic process to establish positive changes in an unhealthy relationship. A review of relevant professional literature resulted in the identification of four needs for research in the area of marital therapy (Glick, 1955; Lederer & Jackson, 1968; Marius, 1966 ; Olson, 1970; Prochaska & Prochaska, 1978): 1.' The need in our society for marital therapy to aid distressed couples. 2. The need for professional counselors to provide that therapy. 1 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 2 3. The need for an adequately trained mental health professional so that the therapy will be efficacious. 4. The need for a theory of marital therapy, with associated techniques, that
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