Mechanisms of Stalemate in Conjoint Marital Therapy

Abstract

When a married couple discuss matters which are independent of societally-reinforced marital role performance unique opportunities arise for enhancement of each other's personal growth or for collusive participation in anxiety-reducing but growth-limiting experiences. The notion has been advanced in this paper that the latter process can be conveniently described in terms of a series of mechanisms of statement which form a rough counterpart (for the couple) of defence mechanisms for the individual. Exposure and exploration of these mechanisms becomes the starting point for the work of conjoint marital therapy. Discussion of the subsequent evolution of the treatment is not within the scope of this paper.