Vital Marriage vs. Conflict-Habituated Marriage

Something I found interesting from this week’s reading, was a few different types of relationships as identified by a team of researchers in the 1960s. According to the researchers, there are five different types of relationships: vital marriage, total marriage, passive-congenial marriage, devitalized marriage, and conflict-habituated marriage. Two that stuck out in my mind were vital marriages, and conflict-habituated marriages. In a vital marriage, the couple is emotionally close. They also enjoy physically being with each other. Their source of satisfaction revolves around their relationship. To me this seems like an extremely positive, loving relationship. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have conflict-habituated marriages. Partners are usually incompatible in these types of relationships. They usually only remain together for the sake of the children, or finances. The text states that the primary dynamic between these couples is conflict. This relationship is way more negative than a vital marriage.