An Empirical Investigation of Changes in Communication Patterns in Couples After Attending an Imago Weekend Workshop
Moriah C. O’Barr
A Clinical Research Project presented to the faculty of the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Atlanta in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology.
Atlanta, Georgia
June, 2015
An Empirical Investigation of Changes in Communication Patterns in Couples After Attending an Imago Weekend Workshop
Moriah C. O’Barr
Georgia School of Professional Psychology
Argosy University Atlanta, 2015
Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT) and the Getting the Love You Want (GLYW) couples weekend workshop have little empirical support. The aim of the current archival study was to determine if workshop participants would demonstrate positive changes in communication patterns. A total sample consisted of 142 participants, including 84 nonrandomized control group participants and 58 nonrandomized clinical group participants. All participants were asked to complete measures at four time intervals: one week prior to the GLYW workshop (Time 1; T1), immediately before the start of the workshop (Time 2; T2), and immediately following the completion of the GLYW workshop (Time 3; T3). All participants who returned T1 measures to the researcher at the beginning of the workshop and reported that the measures were completed at least two days prior were included in the
Interpersonal Communication is a very important ingredient in making strong, healthy relationships. Communicating is how we get a better understanding of one another’s perception of things, as well as how we help someone to better understand ours. We need to express our feelings in relationships and know that they are reciprocated. Not communicating leads to problems and misunderstandings. People need to learn to understand what the other person is trying to communicate. Interpersonal communication is the process by which people exchange information, feelings, and meaning through verbal and non-verbal messages: it is face-to-face communication. It is about what is said, how it is said, and the use of non-verbal communication through
The model to use with the Jacques family would be the cognitive-behavior. The cognitive-behavior therapy offers different treatment. These treatments include adjunctive interventions, communal needs, and aversive control (Wetchler et. al., 2015). The adjunctive interventions would be to look at their behavior interaction. This would include that the Jacques family becomes aware of their communication skills. Communal needs involve the Jacques family learning intimacy, nurturance, and
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, Fourth Edition (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, D.C.: Author.
How often is it mentioned that “communication is key,” yet per Tannen, the divorce rate in 2014 was nearly 50% - coincidence (289)? In her article, “Sex, Lies, and Conversation,” posted in The Washington Post during 1990, Deborah Tannen addresses this very question. She utilizes her background in linguistics and professional writing to convey several reasons why couples may not be clicking. By doing so Tannen hopes to convince those in relationships, or looking to be, of how they can be more open-minded when communicating with their significant others. Within her piece, “Sex, Lies, and Conversation,” Deborah Tannen utilizes a casual tone and hypothetical examples to convince the audience that men and women communicate differently.
Petersen, J. C. (2007). Why don't we listen better? Communicating and connecting in relationships. Lincoln City, Oregon: Petersen Publications.
In her article, “Sex, Lies and Conversation,” Deborah Tannen reveals how the lack of communication between couples are affecting their relationship, which is causing the divorce rate, in the United States, to be at an unimaginable rate of fifty percent. Tannen explains that it isn’t a particular gender’s fault for the failed communication between men and women, but it is the lack of knowledge of how the other gender communicates that’s at fault. She compares the expectations and styles of communication of both men and women to reveal how communication is truly “cross-cultural” between opposite sex. Styles of communication, body language, and the differences in listening styles are three main points that Tannen focuses on to demonstrate how
When looking specifically at the Mental Research Institute 's (MRI) Interactional Family Therapy, it is stated that "researchers zeroed in on the family interaction sequences in all families in an effort to understand how faulty communication patterns might lead to family dysfunction" (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013, p. 304). From a health and pathological standpoint,
First, let me say that I am extremely flattered, and at the same time, somewhat apprehensive by your request for my input into your relationship. Please keep in mind that I am not a professional counselor, at least not yet, and that I have only begun to study the field. I also value my friendship with both of you and am slightly hesitant to provide even informal "advice" because I would never want to jeopardize our friendship in any way. That said, I believe that your letter does raise several important issues that I have already begun studying in school and I will do my best to share with you the benefit of what I have learned.
Healthy communication means communicating one another’s feelings when things need to change. “The wedding ceremony formally instructs each spouse to love and to cherish his mate; clearly an instruction that requires high communication, not only of information but also of feelings (Senn).”
There are two main elements that are used when measuring communication within families. The first one being conversation orientation, the degree to which families create a communication environment in which all family members are encouraged to participate in unrestrained interaction about a wide range of topics (Koerner & Fitzpatrick, 2002b). Families who
Knapp, M. L., Vangelisti, A. L. (2005). Interpersonal Communication and HumanRelationships. (5th ed.) Boston: Pearson.
In today’s society, family conflict is on the rise affecting family members wellbeing, therefore, the aim of this health report was to decrease conflict within the family unit by incrementing time spent together. Which in turn, creates a supportive family environment by ameliorating communication skills within families. In this task Year 11 Health class was required to analyse the family life within the Year 11 Health Education class and compare them to the trends in the wider community to allow the placement of the sample group within the wider community. They were then required to identify the issue that cause conflict within the Year 11 family units and recommend a strategy that would enhance the communication skills within families, which
Communication is an ongoing process in which individuals exchange messages whose meanings are influenced by the history of the relationship and the experiences of the participants. (Adler, p.384) Communication depends on relationships between the people who are communicating, and on common basics between them. Problems in communications between people may arise due to differences in cultures, perceptions, values, and expectations from life.
Communication is a crucial part of our daily lives which can be interpreted in various ways. Although, many couples think they have no problems communicating with each other; however, the issue among genders still exists. Learning to talk and listen can improve relationships in many ways. Therefore, Deborah Tannen, John Gray, Susan Page, and John Gottman focused on improving communication skills between genders.
Communication in family plays a pivotal role to convey the feeling and thought process of the family members. Verbal and non-verbal communication between family members is called family communication (Epstein, Bishop, Ryan, Miller, & Keitner, (1993)). Communication not only involves talking but it also involves listening to others. It creates closeness among family members and allows them to share their feelings towards each other. Effective communication is a foundation to healthy relationship whereas poor communication can lead to family issues like divorces, conflict in families, weakening of relationships, depression and isolation. According to Lubinski, communication is critical for older adults