| Abstract: | Examined the relation between 88 couples' (mean age 32.67 yrs) marital locus of control and their approach to marital problem solving. Ss completed Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale and the Miller Marital Locus of Control Scale. It was predicted that internals for marital satisfaction would more actively engage in problem solving than externals and that couples who confronted problems in a constructive rather than an avoidant or destructive style would arrive at better solutions and would be happier with them. Behavioral measures of conflict resolution style and problem-solving ability were derived from videotapes of the couples as they dealt with commonly encountered marital conflict situations. The data support the hypotheses and suggest that internals for marital satisfaction are more active and direct in their problem solving than are externals. Internals were more effective in communicating and achieving their desired goals and reported higher levels of marital satisfaction than externals. Active engagement in the discussion of marital issues by couples resulted in more effective problem solving than styles characterized by avoidance. Destructive marital interaction was related to poor problem solutions and lower self-reported ratings of solution satisfaction. (45 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
