Perceptual Congruence of Five Attitudes among Satisfied and Unsatisfied Couples

Abstract

In the present study, the perceptual congruence of five attitudes among satisfied and unsatisfied couples was examined. These attitudes were communication, availability, creativity, functional consensus and, manipulation. Attitude was defined by a rather permanent pattern of verbal and nonverbal behavior displayed toward the partner. It was assumed that perceptions of all marital sectors are influenced by such attitudes. Furthermore, the satisfied couple are less defensive with one another and, being less prone to perceptual distortions, should show better perceptual congruence of the five attitudes, as well as of the marital aspects, than the unsatisfied couple. Satisfied couples differed from unsatisfied couples in their perception of marital attitudes except for the manipulation attitude. For ail marital aspects, except the children's aspect, satisfied couples showed greater perceptual congruence than did unsatisfied couples.