The Tripartite Nature of Marital Commitment: Personal, Moral, and Structural Reasons to Stay Married

摘要: This study assesses the empirical viabilihy of Johnson's (1991) commitment framework. The core principle is that commitment, rather than a unitary phenomenon, involves three distinct experiences: wanting to stay married, feeling morally obligated and constrained married. Using data from sample married couples, we show direct measures experiences are not highly correlated with each other, measure so-called global function primarily, if exclusively; personal associated for most part components type as hypothesized in framework, types their same way other variables. Key Words: marriage, stability. What does it mean be committed relationship? Johnson (1973, 1982, 1991, press) has argued experience unitary, there different set causes, phenomenology, cognitive, emotional, behavioral consequences. Personal refers sense relationship, moral stay, structural regardless level or commitment. We report an investigation experiential nature context first marriages have survived 1981 1994. Data presented on relationships among relationship also functions related differently number antecedents TYPES OF COMMITMENT framework organized around discussion major identifies key sets factors contribute personal, moral, particular relationship. two experienced internal individual person's own attitudes values. third structural, external perceptions constraints make costly leave Commitment extent which one wants affected by (Johnson, 1991). First, individuals may want continue because they attracted partner. Second, attraction Although under many conditions these clearly phenomenon. One can feel strong who, behaves ways finds quite unsatisfactory. Furthermore, attractiveness joint actions both partners attributed primarily oneself. For example, physically abusive husband controls his wife convincing her abuse more fault 1995; Kirkwood, 1993; Pence & Paymar, 1993). In such case, woman negative feelings about violent but still love partner, who convinced he problem. component couple identity. Social central identity (Kuhn McPartland, 1954; McCall Simmons, 1978). …