A Feminist Approach to Family Therapy

Although family therapy recognizes the importance of the social context as a determiner of behavior, family therapists have not examined the consequences of traditional socialization practices that primarily disadvantage women. The unquestioned reinforcement of stereotyped sex roles takes place in much of family therapy. A feminist therapy orientation that considers the consequences of stereotyped sex roles and the statuses prescribed by society for females and males should be part of family therapy practice. This paper describes the ways in which family therapists who are aware of their own biases and those of the family can change sexist patterns through applying feminist principles to such areas as the contract, shifting tasks in the family, communication, generational boundaries, relabeling deviance, modeling, and therapeutic alliances.     

Are sexually permissive individuals more victimized and socially isolated?

Sexually permissive individuals are judged harshly by others, yet little research has examined whether these individuals themselves feel more victimized and socially isolated. Among 810 undergraduates (74% females; 38% non‐White; ages 18–23), linear, logistic, and negative binomial regressions indicated that, after controlling for demographics, higher numbers of lifetime casual sex partners predicted (a) more relational aggression experiences and sexual behavior‐based prejudice, but (b) less loneliness, greater likelihood of having a best friend, and higher numbers of close friends, acquaintances, and relatives. Controlling for extraversion rendered most isolation, but not victimization, links nonsignificant. There were few sex differences. Results suggest a complex relation between permissiveness, victimization, and isolation, indicating resiliency among permissive individuals in the face of adversity.     

Capitalization in distressed couples: A pilot study and outline for future research

Capitalization—seeking “support” when good things happen—is linked to healthy couple functioning but has never been studied in distressed couples. We examined whether perceptions of capitalization and traditional social support related to couples' satisfaction prior to, and following, couples' therapy at a Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Perceptions of capitalization and traditional social support were associated yet distinct. Not all distressed couples had poor perceptions of support, and greater perceived support related to greater satisfaction at treatment entry. Relationship satisfaction was higher posttreatment for individuals whose partners reported providing them with greater capitalization support prior to treatment. We focus our discussion on the development of systematic research to investigate how capitalization may promote adaptive processes in vulnerable couples.     

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Marital Adjustment: The Mediating Role of Forgiveness

The study assessed the effects of war captivity on posttraumatic stress symptoms and marital adjustment among Prisoners of War (POWs) from the Yom Kippur War. It was hypothesized that men's perception of level of forgiveness mediates the relation between posttraumatic symptoms and marital adjustment. The sample consisted of 157 Israeli veterans divided into 3 groups: 21 POWs with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), 58 former POWs without PTSD, and 70 control veterans. The findings indicated that former POWs with PTSD reported lower levels of marital satisfaction and forgiveness than veterans in the other 2 groups. In addition, men's perception of level of forgiveness mediated the relationship between their posttraumatic symptoms and their marital adjustment. The theoretical and clinical implications of these results are discussed.