Behavioral Marriage Therapy: I. A Psychodynamic‐Systems Analysis and Critique

Abstract

After briefly summarizing the major theoretical premises and treatment strategies of Behavioral Marriage Therapy (BMT), five major clusters of implicit assumptions in BMT are identified and critically examined: I. "The Rational Observing Ego Shall Conquer All"; II. "Behavior Should Not Mean, But Be"; III. "What's Sauce for the Goose is Sauce for the Gander"; IV. "Repression Is Good for Your Marital Mental Health"; V. "The Folly of the Therapist as Technician." Throughout this analysis, the conceptual and clinical limitations of a strictly or predominantly behavioral approach to couples therapy are described, and BMT is reconsidered in the light of object relations theory and communication theory perspectives on marital dysfunction and its treatment.

Beyond empiricism: The politics of marital therapy

“…Yet the directives of BMT are perceived by both our critics (Gurman & Knudson, 1978;Wile, 1981) and our clients as beliefs about what a relationship should be. A good relationship involves collaboration, compromise, accommodation, personal sacrifice.…”

The negative reciprocity process in marital relationships: A literature review

“…This behavioral approach focuses on the verbal components of the romantic relationship, which highlights that couples with effective communication skills can solve their relational issues, whereas couples who lack these skills can make the problems worse by avoiding them or escalating them (Gurman & Knudson, 1978).…”

The spouse observation checklist: Empirical analysis and critique

“…Using items from the SOC as illustration, Gurman (1978) and Gurman and Knudson ( 1978) have attacked behavioral approaches for encouraging the repression of negative feelings. They argue that certain behaviors labeled as displeasing on the SOC, and thus, considered as something to be reduced or eliminated, can actually be important ways to express feelings, define relationships, and even communicate respect.…”