Couple Decision Making

Abstract

This study addresses the question of potential differences in the processes and outcomes of joint decision making in terms of the particular issue being negotiated by spouses, and the partner's behavior or assessment being examined. The proposition is tested and verified that decision-making processes vary by both spouse and the issue being discussed. Husbands' and wives' assessments of the outcomes of decision making do not differ within couples, but their assessments do vary across issues. A further proposition-that the importance of getting one's own way regarding the particular issue influences decision dynamics and outcomes-receives much less support. Future research should take into account emerging contemporary issues and avoid treating couple decision-making processes and outcomes as unidimensional. Further work on the reasons for observed differences across issues in couple decision making is needed.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bennett, Linda A. , Karen McAvity , and Steven J. Wilin. 1978. “Couple Versus Individual Interviews: An Issue in Family Research Methodology.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of National Council on Family Relations, Philadelphia.

Blood, Robert O., Jr. , and Donald M. Wolfe. 1960. Husbands and Wives. Glencoe, IL: Free Press.

Brinkerhoff, Merlin and Eugen Lupri. 1978. “Theoretical and Methodological Issues in the Use of Decision-Making as an Indicator of Conjugal Power: Some Canadian Observations.” Canadian Journal of Sociology 3:1-20.

Broderick, Carlfred B. 1975. “Power in the Governance of Families.” Pp. 117-130 in Power in Families, edited by Ronald E. Cromwell and David H. Olson . New York: John Wiley.

Cromwell, Ronald E. , and David H. Olson. 1975. “Multidisciplinary Perspectives of Power.” Pp. 15-36 in Power in Families, edited by Ronald E. Cromwell and David H. Olson . New York: John Wiley.

Cromwell, Ronald E. and Stephen G. Wieting. 1975. “Multidimensionality of Conjugal Decision-Making Indices: Comparative Analyses of Five Samples.” Journal of Comparative Family Studies 6:139-152.

Deutsch, Morton. 1973. The Resolution of Conflict. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Ericsson, K. Anders and Herbert A. Simon. 1980. “Verbal Reports as Data.” Psychological Review 8:215-251.

Fitzgerald, Nancy M. and Catherine A. Surra. 1981. “Studying the Development of Dyadic Relationships: Explorations Into a Retrospective Interview Technique.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Council on Family Relations, Milwaukee, WI.

10.

Hill, Wayne and John Scanzoni. 1982. “An Approach for Assessing Marital Decision-Making Processes.” Journal of Marriage and the Family 44:927-941.

11.

Knudson, Robert M. , Somers, Alice A. , and Golding, Steven L. 1980. “Interpersonal Perception and Mode of Resolution in Conflict.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 38:751-763.

12.

McDonald, Gerald. 1980. “Family Power: The Assessment of a Decade of Theory and Research.” Journal of Marriage and the Family 42:841-854.

13.

Olson, David H. and Ronald E. Cromwell. 1975. “Methodological Issues in Family Power.” Pp. 131-150 in Power in Families, edited by Ronald E. Cromwell and David H. Olson . New York: John Wiley.

14.

Raush, Harold L. , William A. Barry , Richard K. Hertel , and Mary Ann Swain. 1974. Communication, Conflict, and Marriage. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

15.

Scanzoni, John. 1979. “Social Processes and Power in Families.” Pp. 295-316 in Contemporary Theories About the Family (Vol. 1), edited by Wesley R. Burr , Reuben Hill , F. Ivan Nye , and Ira L. Reiss . New York: Free Press.

16.

Scanzoni, John and Cynthia Arnett. 1987. “Enlarging the Understanding of Marital Commitment via Religious Devoutness, Gender Role Preferences, and Locus of Marital Control.” Journal of Family Issues 8:136-156.

17.

Scanzoni, John and Karen Polonko. 1980. “A Conceptual Approach to Explicit Marital Negotiation.” Journal of Marriage and the Family 42:31-44.

18.

Scanzoni, John and Maximiliane Szinovacz. 1980. Family Decision-Making: A Developmental Sex Role Model. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

19.

Szinovacz, Maximiliane E. 1987. “Power.” Pp. 651-694 in Handbook of Marriage and the Family, edited by Marvin B. Sussman and Suzanne K. Steinmetz . New York: Plenum.