《亲密关系》第一章《人际关系的构成》“请你思考”解析
2021年12月21日Analysis of “For Your Consideration” in “Intimate Relationships” by Rowland Miller
人际关系的构成
Mark and Wendy met during their junior years in college, and they instantly found a lot to like in each other. Wendy was pretty and very feminine and rather meek, and Mark liked the fact that he was able to entice her to have sex with him on their second date. Wendy was susceptible to his charms because she unjustly doubted her desirability, and she was excited that a dominant, charismatic man found her attractive. They started cohabitating during their senior years and married 6 months after graduation. They developed a traditional partnership, with Wendy staying home when their children were young and Mark applying himself to his career. He succeeded in his profession, winning several lucrative promotions, but Wendy began to feel that he was married more to his work than to her. She wanted him to talk to her more, and he began to wish that she was eating less and taking better care of herself.
Having read this chapter, what do you think the future holds for Mark and Wendy? How happy will they be with each other in another 10 years? Why?
“亲密关系与泛泛之交至少在六个方面存在程度差异:了解、关心、相互依赖性、相互一致性、信任、承诺。”
了解:Mark和Windy在大三约会随后同居,他们具有广泛而私密的了解。
相互依赖性:Wendy不自信,比较依赖Mark。Mark热爱工作,不太依赖Wendy。题目没有提及孩子导致依赖变化的情况。
相互一致性:由于Wendy负责带孩子,Mark负责工作,Mark可能比较少带Wendy去social,Wendy也比较少跟Mark一起去做跟孩子有关的事(一起上育儿班)。这减少了Mark和Wendy的一致性。
信任:Wendy不自信,对他人的信任可能不会太多。(第二次约会就上床是因为……)Mark在工作上升职,对自己应该是有自信的。
承诺:题目中未体现。
当这六个特征不完全,亲密程度就会减弱,就会导致不幸福。所以主人公的未来比起从前约会时,比较不幸福。
“为满足归属需要,我们努力与他人建立和维持亲密的人际关系,我们还期待与那些了解、关心我们的人交往和沟通”
Mark如果以后工作变忙,待在家的时间减少,便难以满足Windy的归属需要。
“人际关系建立后会令人轻松愉悦,而要解除已有的人际关系则会遇到重重阻力”
主人公的婚姻即使不幸福,他们可能不会离婚,这会加剧他们的不幸福。
“因此会美国新婚夫妻前景较准确的估计是,他们更有可能面临离婚,而不是白头偕老”
主人公的婚姻在十年后可能离婚。
依恋类型:
回避亲密(低) /\ | 安全型 | 痴迷型 | ----------------------------> 忧虑被弃(高) | 疏离型 | 恐惧型 |
Mark快乐地与他人交往,容易发展出轻松信任的人际关系,所以应该是安全性。Wendy不自信,需要寻求认同,所以应该是痴迷型。Mark希望妻子减肥,如果妻子尝试了但没有成效,可能无法获得Mark的认同。
“例如在爱情关系中,情侣双方某些依恋类型的匹配可能比其他的匹配要好得多”
因为Mark和Wendy的依恋类型不同,他们无法太亲密。
Mark具有工具性特质,Wendy具有表达性特质。双方具有另一项特质较少。他们都是传统型的人,双性化的人“比两个都是传统型的男女相处更为融洽”。“坚持传统刻板性别角色的夫妇一般不如非传统的夫妇婚姻幸福。”
五大人格特质(从最不重要到最重要):开放性、外倾型、尽责型、宜人型、神经质。
Mark具有尽责性,Wendy具有神经质。“神经质越弱的夫妻越幸福”
自尊:Wendy怀疑自己的魅力,所以自尊较少。如果Mark叫她减肥而她不见成效,自尊就更少。“假设人们认为自己对异性有吸引力,则自我感觉就会良好”。Mark第二次约会就把Wendy骗上床,Mark自尊较高。
Wendy长期处在低自尊“会形成负面的自我评价”,可能更依赖Mark。“低自尊的人有时低估伴侣对他们的爱,以致损害亲密关系”。
Mark自我评价较高,“自我评价高的人却能拉近和伴侣的距离,努力修复亲密关系”。
总结
主人公的婚姻由于个体差异趋向于不幸福,但Mark自我评价高,有能力修复关系。增加一致性有助于改善亲密关系。
10年后,他们更可能离婚。