A marriage enriching programme : a macro intervention strategy in Community Psychology
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Date
2003
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Abstract
The rate of divorce and family breakdown is escalating at an alarming rate. This growth of a substantial number of people experiencing divorce has questioned the effectiveness of family centered orthodox approaches to resolving marital difficulties thereby necessitating exploration of a macro intervention strategy to the epidemic of marital breakdown.
In this study methods chosen were focus group discussions and participant observation. A marriage enrichment group was formed for the purpose of giving psychology to the people, and to empower them so that they can solve their own problems, in their own communities, bearing in mind that the number of psychologists who can deal with the increasing number is limited.
Couples group meetings were held fortnightly primarily to provide an opportunity for people in intimate relationships to examine the quality of their relationships, to determine what barriers were preventing genuine intimacy, to make decisions concerning how they want to change their lives with each other and to explore their conflicts.
The need to form a marriage group arose out of the need for community psychologists to be visible and effect change in couples' struggles. An empowerment model was chosen taking into consideration that the model implies that competencies are thwarted due to social-cultural barriers and a lack of resources, and that these competencies can be strengthened through the support of local community groups, rather than large, centralized social agencies and institutions which control resources. A marriage enrichment group is used as an example of community psychology's macro empowerment intervention strategy to societal problems. The study has demonstrated that in groups couples function better and are able to resolve conflicts with the group serving as a watchdog in fostering accountability.
Description
A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of PHD Community Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2003.
Keywords
Marriage counseling, Community psychology