I ranian R ehabilitation Journal March 2017, Volume 15, Number 1 Research Paper: Effectiveness of Transactional Analysis Group Training in Reducing Control-oriented Behaviors of CrossMark Spouse in Marital Conflicts Emad Alkasir1, Fatemeh Jafarian Dehkordi2*, Parvaneh Mohammadkhani1, Erfan Soleimani Sefat3, Akbar Atadokht2 1. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. 3. Department of Counseling, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Use your device to scan and read the article online Citation: Alkasir E, Jafarian Dehkordi F, Mohammadkhani P, Soleimani Sefat E, Atadokht A. Effectiveness of Transactional Analysis Group Training in Reducing Control-oriented Behaviors of Spouse in Marital Conflicts. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal. 2017; 15(1):57-64. https://doi.org/10.18869/nrip.irj.15.1.57 : https://doi.org/10.18869/nrip.irj.15.1.57 Article info: A B S T R A C T Received: 10 Oct. 2016 Accepted: 23 Jan. 2017 Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of transactional analysis group training in reducing control-oriented behaviors of spouse in marital discords. Methods: This study employed an experimental design with pre-test and post-test and a control group. The population consisted of women having marital disputes who were referred to counseling centers of Shahre-kord in the first six months of 2013. Among the sample, 40 individuals were randomly selected and assigned to two (experimental and control) groups of 20 members each. The subjects of the experimental group received eight transactional analysis training sessions, and control-oriented behavior scale of couple was used to collect data. The data obtained were analyzed by covariance analysis. Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference between experimental and control groups in the post-test in terms of control-oriented behaviors of spouse and its Keywords: dimensions (P>0.05). Transactional analysis, Control- Discussion: According to our findings, the use of transactional analysis training is effective in oriented behavior, Family, reducing marital discords and can be extended to other aspects of life that can help couples and Marital conflict families prevent and reduce problems. 1. Introduction tion, families are considered the most vulnerable social groups against damage. This is because the majority of Family is a basic unit of personal devel- injuries and problems occur first in the family and then opment and a place to create experiences penetrate into the community in the case of inappropri- A that are essential for character build- ate management of the problems [2]. ing [1]. As the smallest social institu- * Corresponding Author: Fatemeh Jafarian Dehkordi, MSc. Address: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. Tel: +98 (916) 8047848 E-mail: [email protected] 57 March 2017, Volume 15, Number 1 I ranian R ehabilitation Journal Divorce cases have become a serious social problem, awareness and ability of the individuals to decide and causing damage to the community structure. The in- change their life. The effectiveness of communication creasing divorce cases might be due to the widespread skill training in reducing conflicts has been examined impact of population growth and significant changes in and confirmed in several studies[12, 13]. One study [14] the family structure [3]. According to the civil registra- has reported the effectiveness of transactional analysis tion of divorce, there has been a significant increase in on the relationship between couples while another study divorce cases on an annual basis. There can be many ad- [15] has stated the effectiveness of communication skills verse consequences of divorce on the extended family training in improving marital relations, reducing con- structure. Such consequences include changing of cul- flicts, and increasing their mental health. A research[16] tural, social, and economic laws, increased crime rates, based on transactional analysis training showed how the social disintegration, development of extramarital rela- training increased intimacy between couples. Another tionships, physical and mental disorders such as addic- study [17] based on transactional analysis showed its ef- tion, suicidal tendencies, mental weaknesses, etc., less fectiveness in increasing consistency and improving the satisfaction with life, and increased rate of prostitution relationship between couples. [4]. Divorced women are the most affected; they have a low quality of life [5], face financial issues [6], face Despite different studies confirming the effectiveness negative moral attitude of the community, and have a of transactional analysis in improving communication tendency to drift towards drugs and depression [7]. among couples, the effectiveness of this intervention in re- ducing control-oriented behaviors of spouse has not been One of the aspects of family conflicts or damages that significantly addressed. Therefore, this study attempts to can lead to divorce is the control-oriented behavior of show the effectiveness of transactional analysis training in the spouse. The most significant research topics have reducing the control-oriented behaviors of spouse. been regarding health education and violence in fami- lies, especially men’s violence against women [8]. Wal- 2. Methods lace’s definition of violence refers to the set of actions that are physically or emotionally harmful or potentially This study employed an experimental design with cause injury. Spouses use various forms of violence in- pre-test and post-test and a control group. The training cluding physical, sexual, and emotional violence in their transactional analysis was considered as an independent relationship at times. Control-oriented behaviors are the variable, whereas the control-oriented behavior was con- ones by which some couples try to harass their oppo- sidered as a dependent variable. nent. These behaviors can include economic control, control through threats and intimidation, isolation, and Population, sample and sampling method emotional control [9]. Some men show social violence (controlling female behavior, social isolation and a ban The population of this study included all women with on communicating with others) against women. This so- marital conflicts who were aged 20 to 50 years old and cial violence and control-oriented behavior is a barrier were literate in Shahrekord City in the first six months of to healthy relationships in couples and have a negative 2013. Due to family problems, they were referred to coun- impact on family functioning [8]. seling centers and welfare organization across the city (name). After coordination and referral to counseling cen- These are the root causes for misunderstandings, which ters and welfare organizations, 40 patients were randomly result in biases and irrational thoughts [10]. The control- selected and assigned to two groups of 20 people each oriented behaviors of spouses increase the conflicts be- (Department of transactional analysis and control group). tween couples, and decreasing this behavior can play an The following instruments were used to collect data: important role in increasing marital satisfaction and thus, reducing the rate of divorce. One of the factors in the Controlling behaviors scales: control-oriented behavior of spouse is the type of rela- This scale was used in 2005 by Graham-Kevan and tionship shared by the couples, which is one of the ways Archer to evaluate the control-oriented behavior of in- to enhance communication-oriented couples in which dividuals. It is a phrase that control-oriented behavior spouse can have effective control behaviors that can be scale 24 of the couples’ married life is examined. For explained by transactional analysis training. Corey [11] couples with children, five other words were added to argues that transactional analysis is an interactive treat- the scale (five was the final test). This scale only deals ment method that asserts on the cognitive and behavioral with behavioral categories and does not cover physical aspects of the healing process and aims to increase the Alkasir E, et al. Effectiveness of Transactional Analysis Group Training in Reducing Control-oriented Behaviors of Spouse in Marital Conflicts. IRJ. 2017; 15(1):57-64. 58 I ranian R ehabilitation Journal March 2017, Volume 15, Number 1 Table 1: Implementation instructions of transactional analysis training Referrals, stating study objectives, the rules of the group, responsibility for members of the group, general com- First session ment about transactional analysis and its application, pre-test Action analysis of child, adult and parent mode, assignment to participants about charting their soul states or ego Second session grams, expression, natural child and obedient child, controlling parent and supportive parent features, strengthen adult The definition of mutual relationship, parallel reciprocal relationship, intersecting mutual relationship, the rules of Third session established relationship, assignment of subjects to detect any types of reciprocity relationships The definition of stroking, verbal / non-verbal, positive / negative, conditional / unconditional stroking, discussing Fourth session ways to be fondled and submit assignments