Administered personality tests to groups selected to represent the various stages of the divorce process. Results indicated intensified feelings of depression, anxiety, and hostility as subjects entered marriage counseling. However, by the sixth to twelfth month after the divorce, most of these negative feelings had disappeared. (Author)

Presents two articles which examine the relationship between intimacy and self-disclosure in 10 clinical and 10 nonclinical couples using the Self-Disclosure Coding System (SDCS). Results suggested positive self-statements, time spent talking, and affective manner discriminated between the two groups and were related to intimacy. (JAC)

Examined impacts of brief group psychotherapy on the marital and sex roles of five volunteer couples. Results show interactional correlates of traditional marital and sex role variations are attenuated, that communication between spouses is improved, and that the therapeutic quality of verbal behavior is enhanced over the course of therapy.…

Investigated the usefulness of Arnold's Signs in examining marital discord among married couples (N=72) who were parents of children brought to a mental health facility seeking marital counseling, or in the process of divorce. Results revealed that the counseling group was consistently higher on all signs that reached significance. (Author/JAC)

Treated a sample of 77 distressed middle- and lower-class couples using conjoint therapy. Couple and therapist therapy behavior were assessed. A variety of sex and social class differences were found, suggesting that no one marital therapy technique will be appropriate for both sexes and different SES backgrounds. (JAC)

Reviewed experimental evidence for the efficacy of videotape and verbal feedback in behavioral couple therapy. Concluded that research does not permit definitive conclusions concerning either procedure. Evidence indicates that it is difficult to ascertain just how the communication behaviors of happy and distressed couples differ. (Author/JAC)