Suggested Research Method

My research suggestion on the topic of in-tact marriage and family would be to take a survey, because a survey is a collection of data that is taken by having people answer a series of questions. I think that this will be the best way to find out what makes a marriage and family successful, because I think that there is no right or wrong answers when someone lists what characteristics they believe make marriages successful. 

It would be interesting to see what characteristics my peers pick out to label a successful and in-tact marriage based on what they see from observing their own parents relationship. I plan on using this for my topic because I want to be able to compare the survey answers of my peers. To the answers given by the professionals I have previously researched for the blog. I want to create a Google document targeting about 25 teens, ranging in age from 15 to 18, asking them to list their top 10 characteristic needed for a successful marriage, and family. 

Achieve Marital Success!?

This article lists factors that affect marital success. People getting married think that things are going to last, but their family history also affects the over success rate of their own marriage. I was looking into factors that influence the couple’s rate of success. So what is under their control and what is not? According to this article on stronger marriage  there are seven factors that influence success within the marriage. 

1. Parent's Marriage. If a couple's parents were happily married, the couple is more likely to be happily married and less likely to divorce. Of course, many individuals whose parents divorced are able to establish happy marriages, but the odds favor those with happily married parents.

2. Childhood. An individual who had a happy, "normal" childhood is more likely to be successful in marriage.

3. Length of Acquaintance. Generally, the longer the acquaintance, the more likely the marriage will be successful. Those who have known each other over one year have better odds than those with acquaintanceships less than a year.

4. Age. In general, those who are older when married have more stable marriages. For example, those who marry at 20 years or older have marriages that last twice as long as those who marry under age 20.

5. Parental Approval. Parental approval is related to marriage success for two reasons: 1) approving parents are more supportive, and 2) disapproving parents may be seeing real problems that will create difficulties for the couple.

6. Premarital Pregnancy. Marriages that are the result of pregnancy have a high rate of failure. Fifty percent end within five years.

7. Reasons for Marriage. Marriages begun because of genuine understanding and caring have better success than those started for the "wrong reasons," such as getting away from home, rebellion, or wanting to be "grown up."

This list is then followed up in the article by other additional factors that my blog posts have already been written upon.

I agree that all of these 7 factors contribute to a successful marriage. Especially because we learn from our parents, their marriage and the upbringing they gave us has a huge effect on the way we think and feel, this affects the success rate of your own marriage. With knowing a person for a longer period of time I think that is builds the relationship and does create a stronger foundation for marriage. Age of course changes the way we feel about things, because our brains are still developing. Our attitude then change from the time of adolescent into adulthood, so what they think they want at 18, is most likely something they will not want when they are 25 or older. I think everything else from the article is pretty straight forward and have an obvious contribution to the success of marriages. 

Are relationships more successful within a same sex marriage?

In this article by PBS it is stated that the marriages of lesbians and gays have the same rates of success and failure as compared to that of straight couples. Yet the same idea applies to both same sex and heterosexual relationships, which is good communication is the key to successful relationships. However within the article it was stated that “same-sex couples tend to focus more on equality and resolve conflict more effectively than opposite-sex couples”, but this does not make their relationships more successful over all. Frankly same sex couples have a harder time emotionally than other couples because they often suffer from discrimination, bullying, and sometimes violence. Because of this they have increased stress and mental health problems. This also falls upon the children if the couple decides to have any, because they run the risk of becoming targets along with their parents.

I agree with the ideas stated in the article because I think that they are very logical. However I do think that going through emotional hardships like bullying helps to build relationships. This is because you have someone going through the same thing as you. I feel that then you have someone to express your feelings to and they can understand you and you will be each other’s support system. This is important in any relationship. I think that this builds communication skills and brings people and their partner closer together. Then you know you can get through anything. I think that within a family dynamic children of same sex couples will also grow up to me much more understand and closer to the family because they have bonded by being each other’s support system. 

Odd Things, That Work

This presentation about what people supposedly do not know about marriage really surprised me. I went back and tried to find a different answer to my first blog post, so what makes a marriage work? Some of the points covered by Jenna are odd, and I have never thought of before.

***so the embedded video does not seem to be working watch the video here!***

It is crazy to think that a marriage is more likely to be successful if the wife is thinner and more attractive, than the husband. I think that looks are almost irrelevant in a relationship, granted you have to be attracted to your spouse, but that should not be a contributing factor to a successful marriage or for that matter a failed one. Another study also shows that the happiest couples are the ones that focus on the positives of any situation. I agree with this because if you are always being negative it will take an emotional toll on you, and eventually those around you, like your spouse. I also agree with the study proving that the willingness of a man to do housework correlates with how attractive his spouse will find him. Who wouldn’t like more domestic help, yes I am not married or anything but I can’t find anything wrong with some help around the house. Another study that she brought up in the presentation showed that if you have childhood pictures of you smiling, or looking genuinely happy, you are less likely to get a divorce. This idea seems a little far-fetched for my taste, but hey, research is research. However I do believe that watching a romantic comedy cause’s relationship satisfaction to plummet, because your man will rarely live up the fictional expectations girls have, that have been set in place by movie writers and actors like Channing Tatum. 

In tack families contributing to academic success

In this article I found from ewtn news covering the research showing the children from intact  biological marriages have greater overall academic success, than those with disrupted families. The College Board showed that in 2011 the SAT reading scores were the lowest of the past 40 years. This is because the parents in a intact marriage, with biological children have higher expectations, and are more involved in school work and other activities. These children are more likely to care about ding well in school, graduating from high school, enter and complete a 4 year college degree program, and are less likely to be expelled or suspended from school. This research shows that strengthening a family is fundamental to bring up the next generations overall academic success.

I think that the research and results of this study make sense because in families where both parents are involved in their children's lives, it is hard for them to essentially "slip through the cracks." I think that within a family in which the parents are involved they will watch over their children, and be more hands on in tracking grades, and keeping the children from acting out in school. The success of the next generation depends greatly on the strong foundation that parents and families provide to the children especially during development. 

what makes a marriage successful?

For the first article, I wanted to find out what common components make or contribute to a successful marriage, and see if I agree with them or not. Through this article  I was able to find a list of characteristics that the popular talk show host Dr. Phil believes makes marriages successful. His list emphasizes that marriage takes effort, and what you put in is essentially what you get back. He also states in the article to forget right from wrong, and focus on what you are doing and whether or not it is working. Another important point he makes is that action and non- verbal communication speaks much louder than words. In this article I was not able to find a point that he made, that I truly disagree with. However he makes many excellent points which I agree with, and I want to explain why.

I agree with what Dr. Phil had to say in this article because I think that it touches upon a lot of important aspects in a marriage and offers points on what makes a successful marriage just that, successful. I agree with him 100% that whatever effort you put into something you will get back, especially if your partner is on the same page as you. It’s similar to anything, if you don’t try to get what you want you obviously will not get it, unless you’re one of the luck few who gets things handed to them. Learning what I have from Psychology I know that body language and facial expressions completely give away what one is thinking or feeling. For example if your arms are always crossed in the presence of your spouse then you are psychically closing yourself off. It’s important to the success of a marriage to open up to your spouse. By showing them you still care through your actions. It is clear in almost any situation that actions speak louder than words, so in a successful marriage this needs to be understood.  

why choose in- tack marriage and family?

I choose the topic of marriage and family, to be specific, successful or “in- tact” marriages. I am excited to spend the next semester researching and blogging about this topic because it is something I have never researched or even really thought about. Now I wonder what common aspects of successful marriages actually make them successful, and why? Nowadays studies show that the divorce rate is over fifty percent, so why did those fail and others succeed? Has there been a change in gender roll, or responsibility within the household? Is this what makes marriages successful, changing with the times? I do not know yet, but I am excited to explore all of these ideas.