The Psychology of Marriage: An Evolutionary and Cross-Cultural View

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Description

From their location in the heart of Detroit, Michigan, the Weisfelds lab has reached out for thirty years to couples in long-term partnerships around the world. In living rooms of Detroit, London, Moscow, Beijing, and beyond, couples of all types and ages have shared their insights into adult romantic relationships. This book, The Psychology of Marriage, is a distillation of these findings, which have appeared in dozens of book chapters, journal articles, and conference presentations. The book also provides new systematic comparisons that offer insights into the mysteries of marriage and other committed relationships. Scholars, professional counselors, and family therapists will find a helpful framework for thinking about cultural similarities and differences in marital dynamics. Researchers will be introduced to a robust new instrument, the Marriage and Relationship Questionnaire (MARQ), which can be used in heterosexual and same-sex couples in virtually any cultural setting, along with ethical guidelines for conducting this research. Anyone who is interested in why committed relationships work (or do not work) will find the book filled with compelling new insights.

Reviews

The Psychology of Marriage is a valuable addition to our field. It sheds light on both the culturally specific and the universal, generally adaptive properties of marriage. In their preface, the Editors write This research has been conducted without any major grants (p. x). The book demonstrates that much can be accomplished simply with persistence, an intellectual framework and a dedicated group of researchers. The book is an admirable step forward in articulating an evolutionary, multicultural perspective on marriage. [Reviewed by Daniel Perlman] * Journal of Family Theory & Review *
The Psychology of Marriage is an essential read for anyone interested in the factors shaping marital life cross-culturally as well as the methodology and challenges of research in this area. Extremely useful for psychology students and practitioners. Carol and Glenn Weisfeld and Lisa M. Dillon have pulled together a variety of authors that point out the cross-cultural similarities and differences in marriage as well as the challenges of studying the practice, including the importance of couples research. -- Catherine Salmon, University of Redlands
The Psychology of Marriage is a superb book that highlights the ins and outs of marriage; the causes of marital happiness and discord; and both the differences and similarities of different cultural groups ranging from Russia to Brazil. It is unique in brining both evolutionary and cultural lenses to focus on our most cherished and heart-rending relationshipstwo perspectives indispensable for understanding the ties that bind. Each chapter contains many jewels of their research findings. Collectively, the chapters in the book make it a magnificent milestone in the science of marriage. -- David M. Buss, The University of Texas at Austin

Author Bio

Carol Cronin Weisfeld is professor of psychology at the University of Detroit Mercy. Glenn E. Weisfeld is professor of psychology at Wayne State University. Lisa M. Dillon, PhD, is the academic director for the Detroit Medical Center.