Is intuition an influential factor in marital partner selection? A qualitative study

The purpose of this research was to determine whether intuition was an influential factor in a couple's experience of selecting a partner and choosing to marry. The theoretical frameworks that guided this study were phenomenology, symbolic interactionism, and symbolic experiential family therapy. The research included 20 participants who completed individual face-to-face interviews that were audio taped. The participants were 10 couples (each spouse completed an individual interview) in their first marriage without children. The participants were asked four questions, and the audio taped interviews were analyzed to determine the themes. Six themes were found: (a) similar interests; (b) similar values and beliefs; (c) personality characteristics; (d) intuition; (e) logical reasoning; and (f) relationship characteristics. Conclusions and recommendations are included to offer aid to mental health professionals and agencies working with couples and families, and to suggest future research.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Family Therapy

Grantor

Texas Woman's University

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Martin, Amanda

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Brock, Linda J.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Buckley, Rhonda R.
• Jennings, Glen

• Social research
• Individual & family studies
• Social sciences
• Intuition
• Marriage
• Partner selection

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11274/10371

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:twu-ir.tdl.org:11274/10371