Document Type : Research/Original/Regular

Authors

• Zahra Najafoui Torkamani ¹
• Ahmad Alipour ²
• Mahnaz Aliakbaridehkordi ²
• Majid Saffarinia ²

¹ PhD student in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Payame Noor University (PNU), Tehran, Iran

² Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Payam-e-Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

, human relationship has different levels and aspects which can be study from various points of view. Functional analytical psychotherapy (FAP) is one of third wave therapies which focuses on relationship and is help‌full in improving relationship problems. Regarding the growth of conflict between couples and the rate of divorce in country, it seems that deep and comprehensive identification of behavioral and cultural factors related to couples interaction, explaining its meaning and concept and modeling factors related to couples interaction quality are necessary. Thus the aim of present research is qualitative analysis of lived experience of Iranian married men and women from interacting with each other in marital relationship based on functional analytical psychotherapy (FAP).
Method: present research was performed by thematic analysis method. Samples were selected by purposeful sampling and data were collected and analyzed by face to face semi-structured interview.
Results: interviews and analysis were performed based on 7 main aspects such as: attitudes, verbal and nonverbal relationship, disclosure and close relationship with spouse, mutual relationship, conflict and incompatibility, identify and express needs, experience and express excitement. Also, categories and concepts were achieved from participant's interviews.
Conclusion: results provide an approach based on behavior in order to assess, conceptualization and treatment of relationship crisis for couples therapists and help them to concentrate and focus on something practical or impractical for couples instead of something which will perform for couples.

Highlights

According to the results of the qualitative analysis of interviews, one of the aspects reviewed in this research is attitude. A lot of studies support the effect of attitude on behavior (Marvian and Karami, 2020). Attitudes have an impact on behavior by forming our perceptions about situations which in turn dictate our behavior. Attitudes are considered an assessment of every aspect of the social world. Attitudes are often ambivalent. It means that we are assessing objects and topics both positively and negatively which are often learned socially from others. This type of learning can occur during classical conditioning, instrumental conditioning, or observational learning (Baron, Bern & Bronscombe, 2006)

One of the most important types of attitude which plays a significant role in couples’ relationships is the traditional and modern attitude towards marriage and the opposite sex it seems these two types of attitudes have a dramatic impact on the way couples interact.

Verbal and nonverbal communication is another component of research that aligns with previous studies (Richmond & Mc.Crosi 2003, Alexander, et al. 2008, Florian, Hirschberger & Mikolincer, 2013; Jaberi, Etemadi & Ahmadi, 2015; Rahmani, Kimiayi & Asqari-Ebrahim, 2018). Non-verbal behaviors shape the main part of communication: Body movements, walking, sitting, way of speaking and tone of voice, eye contact, and the main communicational forms are the same in the world.

Couples’ relationship is verbal and non-verbal (body language). No one can claim that she/he does not have a relationship with others, because even without talking, feelings and attitudes are transferable. Recognizing body language is very important because 50% of messages stem from body movements. In fact, the non-verbal relationship is the phonetic accuracy of speech which appear separate from verbal content. This part of language consists of tone, intonation, way of pronunciation, speed of speech, volume, and voice falling and rising. Implicit messages add another semantic level to sentences and often are different from verbal expressions. (McKay, Davis ,& Fanning, 2013). Another component is disclosure and a close relationship with the spouse. This element consists of excess and deficiency and suitable time to disclose. And also, intimacy and skills related to intimacy. A lot of studies study the relationship between intimacy and self-disclosure in relationship and its impact on couples’ relations (Barzegar & Samani, 2016; Mansoori, et al, 2013; Bichcusky, 2009). Self-disclosure consists of the process of disclosing thoughts, inner feelings, and previous experiences of oneself for another. Exchanging personal information is considered a main process to expand inter-relationship. Also, self-disclosure is a main part of interpersonal relationships and is necessary to be noticed so as to understand marital functions (Waring, et al., 1998). In fact, intimacy is referred to as closeness and support that each member feels and expresses. A lot of studies showed that the ability to build an intimate relationship with others is one of the main factors in the mental health and mental welfare of adults. (Schumm, et al. 1981). Briefly, during the marriage, special behaviors appear among couples that alienate them from each other. Arguments, excessive criticism, and emotional rejection are such behaviors that eliminate couples’ intimacy and lead to incorrect usage of communication patterns and a decrease in marital life quality (Barzegar & Samani, 2016). Markman, Renick, Floyd, Stanley et al. (1993) who probably are the most interested researchers of the self-disclosure area, believe it is considered as a very important feature of good psychological function and is a sign of personal and instrumental health to acquire a healthy personality.

Another element of this research is a mutual relationship. Kohlenberg, Kalahan & Tsai (2008) believe that mutual relationship during individual assessment consists of a wide range of problems related to the mutual relationship such as failure to consider or explain the individual impact on others, neglecting inter-personal consequences, failure to recognize others’ needs, providing punitive feedback for others, misunderstanding gestures, long and boring discussions, or escaping and avoiding some important relationships.

In the research, the above-mentioned concepts were studied in couples’ relationships. In fact, this element studies the effect of behavior or describing the effect of self-behavior on a spouse, providing feedback for the spouse or sensitivity towards feedback received from the spouse. A lot of studies checked the impact of various types of relationships and defensiveness in the relationship. For example, Laurenceau, Barrett & Rovine (2005) mentioned the feature of an intimate relationship, the feeling of closeness and connection in by couple’s relationship. As a result, when couples face relationship problems, it is possible that the whole relationship will be affected by negative feelings. Moreover, the present research is aligned with studies of Labate & McHenry (1993); Oliver & Margolin (2008); Fowers (2001); lorenso, Baret, & Ravin (2005); Weeks & Fife, (2014).

Another studied component is conflict and incompatibility. Conflict is an as inseparable part of interpersonal relationships but what is important is recognizing conflicts and being aware of them. When people face obstacles while achieving their goals, they express conflict. Therefore, behavioral collections consist of three classes of behaviors:

Passive behaviors: Passive people have problems with conflict and try to reject it.

Aggressive behaviors: Aggressive people also have problems with conflict and try to solve it anyway.

Assertive behavior: Assertive people seek suitable ways to express and resolve their conflicts (Mirenayat, 2019). In fact, conflict in an intimate relationship is inevitable. The question is not whether a conflict exists among couples or not, but the main point is when conflict occurs, and how it will be managed (Weeks & Fife, 2014). In fact, those couples who manage their conflicts by using positive methods and less use of negative interactions will create a situation in which there is more chance to self-disclose and reach an agreement about problems (Johnson, 2003). The results of the study align with the results of Gottman (2008), Gottman and Silver (1999), and Hollist, Miller, Falceto and  Fernandes (2007).

The last element studied in this research is emotional experience and expression. This element considers the recognition of emotions in couples’ relationships and the awareness of whether these emotions are expected and suitable or not. Hise, et al. (2005) State that emotional experience avoidance is considered an obstacle to behavioral changes. In recent years, the main role of emotion in marital distress and couple therapy was accepted more than before (Gottman, 1994). Therefore, the study of emotion continues. (Plautchik, 2000; Tomkins, 1991; Lewis & Haviland-Jones, 2000). The main role of emotional regulation and emotional participation in marital distress or happiness (Johnson & Bradley, 1999) and the emotional nature of human attachments (Bowlby, 1988; Johnson, 2003) are highly explained (Johnson, 2012).

Affirming the role of culture is not an overstatement. From FAP’s point of view, we all are the products of our environment and culture is the main factor of it. Therefore, FAP therapists must deeply consider the suitable culture or subculture of clients. A rewarding or punitive behavior depends on the culture and FAP therapists must be skilled in assessing cultural differences and what naturally reinforces them. FAP therapists must be sensitive to the fact that language is the main channel of culture and should adjust their language accordingly. (Tsai, et al., 2016). In fact, similar behaviors can have different functions within different frameworks. Different behaviors can especially have similar functions as well. It is the responsibility of the therapist to recognize and understand these main functional classifications for couples. Therefore, assessing background and cultural differences can help build culture-based assessment tools and increase treatment efficiency because accurate assessment is the main channel to correct and practical conceptualization and regularity.

We faced limitations to perform in the present research such as limited studies about enhanced couple therapy with functional analytical psychotherapy. Another limitation was the impossibility of a complete and comprehensive assessment of enhanced couple therapy with functional analytical psychotherapy theory from the Iranian native culture’s point of view for Iran is a big country with various cultures in which comprehensive cultural assessment is not possible with one research.

In addition to limitations, according to results for the assessment and conceptualization of couples’ problems, it is possible to prepare suitable tools which arise from Iranian culture. In fact, couple therapists can study the dissatisfactions and conflicts within couples widely and theoretically based on 7 areas and start their therapy according to enhanced couple therapy with functional analytical psychotherapy.

In future studies, we can perform related studies from therapists’ points of view because performing such studies and comparing their results with this study’s results can help to answer some existing conflicts among therapists and clients.

Keywords

• lived experience
• Iranian men and women
• relationship
• functional analytic psychotherapy
• couple therapy

20.1001.1.23452692.1401.10.4.6.1

Main Subjects

• marital adjustment