Sadra Medical Journal

Conceptualization of Power Perception in Marital Relationship: A Qualitative Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Azam Golabdar 1
Mona Cheraghi 2
Alireza Mahdavian 2
Mansoureh Sadat Sadeghi 3
Hojjatollah Farahani 4

1 PhD of Clinical Psychology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Family Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30476/smsj.2024.100004.1441
Abstract
Introduction: The shift in traditional family roles has led to a complex understanding of power within the family, and couple interactions have undergone significant changes. Given the lack of knowledge in this field and its culturally oriented nature, this research was conducted to elucidate the concept of power perception in Iranian couples’ marital relationships and present a theoretical model.
Method: This qualitative study used data-based analysis among Iranian couples in 2022. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews (in pairs and individually) with 11 couples until data saturation was reached. Data analysis was performed using MAXQDA 20 software.
Results: This research identified 18 secondary themes, 10 main themes, and one central category consistent across both study groups. The constitutive and effective concepts on the perception of power in couples included personal sufficiency, causal attitudes, dos and don’ts, personality and demographic characteristics, growth and unconscious conflicts, and subsequent strategies of perceived power. Ultimately, improving the quality of life and confusion in marital relations were two categories obtained within the framework of the consequences of power perception. Additionally, the central category of situational power-attachment fusion was identified.
Conclusion: The results of this research demonstrated the significant impact of power perception on couples’ quality of life. Given that this issue encompasses culture and society, educational measures in power perception in marital relationships are paramount and warrant further attention.

Keywords

Power perception
Marriage
Grounded theory
Qualitative research
  1. Champagne ER, Muise A. Responsiveness and Relationship Satisfaction in Couples Coping With Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Study. Psychol Rep. 2022;125(2):804-21.
  2. Muruthi BA, Young SS, Chou J, Janes E, Ibrahim M. “We pray as a family”: The role of religion for resettled Karen refugees. Journal of Family Issues. 2020;41(10):1723-41.
  3. Cherniak AD, Mikulincer M, Shaver PR, Granqvist P. Attachment theory and religion. Curr Opin Psychol. 2021;40:126-30.
  4. Cox RB, Brosi M, Spencer T, Masri K. Hope, stress, and post-divorce child adjustment: Development and evaluation of the co-parenting for resilience program. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage. 2021;62(2):144-63.
  5. Kim JJ, Visserman ML, Impett EA. Power in close intimate relationships. Power in close relationships. 2019:192-224.
  6. Leonhardt ND, Willoughby BJ, Dyer WJ, Carroll JS. Longitudinal influence of shared marital power on marital quality and attachment security. J Fam Psychol. 2020;34(1):1-11.
  7. Rosler N, Hameiri B, Bar-Tal D, Christophe D, Azaria-Tamir S. Current and future costs of intractable conflicts—can they create attitude change? Frontiers in Psychology. 2021;12:681883.
  8. Boonstra WJ. Conceptualizing power to study social-ecological interactions. Ecology and Society. 2016;21(1).
  9. Coleman DH, Straus MA. Marital power, conflict, and violence in a nationally representative sample of American couples. Physical violence in American families: Routledge; 2017. p. 287-304.
  10. Briñol P, Petty RE, Durso GR, Rucker DD. Power and persuasion: Processes by which perceived power can influence evaluative judgments. Review of General Psychology. 2017;21(3):223-41.
  11. Feldman A, Gill RD. Power dynamics in supreme court oral arguments: The relationship between gender and justice-to-justice interruptions. Justice System Journal. 2019;40(3):173-95.
  12. Eisen DB, Yamashita L. Borrowing from femininity: The caring man, hybrid masculinities, and maintaining male dominance. Men and Masculinities. 2019;22(5):801-20.
  13. Peleg-Koriat I, Weimann-Saks D, Ben-Ari R. The relationship between power perception and couple’s conflict management strategy. Journal of couple & relationship therapy. 2018;17(3):227-49.
  14. Sturm RE, Antonakis J. Interpersonal power: A review, critique, and research agenda. Journal of Management. 2015;41(1):136-63.
  15. Shil NC, Chowdhury A. A qualitative narrative on the practices of transparency and accountability at local government institutions: The case of a Union Parishad in Bangladesh. Local Administration Journal. 2023;16(2):151-76.
  16. Park S, Kim S-H. The power of family and community factors in predicting dating violence: A meta-analysis. Aggression and Violent Behavior. 2018;40:19-28.
  17. Kilai M, Waititu GA, Kibira WA, Alshanbari HM, El-Morshedy M. A new generalization of Gull Alpha Power Family of distributions with application to modeling COVID-19 mortality rates. Results Phys. 2022;36:105339.
  18. Allen KR, Henderson AC. Family theorizing for social justice: A critical praxis. Journal of Family Theory & Review. 2022;14(3):364-83.
  19. Davoodi Z, Fatehizade M, Ahmadi A, Jazayeri R. Culture and power: How do culture and power influence Iranian couples. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy. 2019;18(4):353-65.
  20. Ahmadi Y, Aghaei M. Sociological study of the effect of the value system and power structure in the family on social deviations (case study: urban marginal settlements of Nayser, Sanandaj). Urban Sociological Studies. 2016;7(24);1-30. [In Persian].
  21. Kim JJ, Visserman ML, Impett EA. Power in close intimate relationships. Power in close relationships. 2019:192-224.
  22. Overall NC, Hammond MD, McNulty JK, Finkel EJ. When power shapes interpersonal behavior: Low relationship power predicts men’s aggressive responses to low situational power. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2016;111(2):195-217.
  23. Halloran EC. The role of marital power in depression and marital distress. American Journal of Family Therapy. 1998;26(1):3-14.
  24. Zarei Tophaneh, M. Janbozuri, M. Ahmadi, M. The relationship between the power structure of the original family and the power structure of the current family and its performance. Psycholog Relig. 2016;10(39):121-36. [In Persian].
  25. Jan Bozorgi, M. The effect of spiritual systemic family therapy on marital satisfaction and family activity (the model of love and power). Islamic Journal of Women and Family (former Tahura). 2015;4(6):9-38. [In Persian].
  26. Alaedini Z, Moeeini S, Kajbaf MB. Effects of affective and cognitive empathy induction on couples’ behavior and outcomes in conflicts. Contemporary Psychology, Biannual Journal of the Iranian Psychological Association. 2019;13(2):130-9. [In Persian].
  27. Ma X. Impact of the intra-household bargaining power gap on the happiness of married women in China. International Journal of Happiness and Development. 2020;6(2):113-42.
  28. Brezsnyak M, Whisman MA. Sexual desire and relationship functioning: the effects of marital satisfaction and power. J Sex Marital Ther. 2004;30(3):199-217.
  29. Corbin J, Strauss A. Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory: Sage publications; 2014.
  30. Ghaderi F, Namdari K, Ghobadi S, Shokroolahi M. The structural relationship of meaning in life, personal growth initiative, life orientation and wisdom with authentic personality in students. Cogn Psychol Psychiat. 2018;6(5):56-71. [In Persian].
  31. Grossi S. Investigating the power structure in the families of Kerman city. Social Psychological Studies of Women. 2007;6(17):7-26. [In Persian].
  32. Hosseinkhanzadeh AA, Bagheri Sheykhangafshe F, Seyyed Noori SZ, Tohidi Moghadam M, Vakilian M. The Role of Premarital Education and Counseling on the Formation of a Positive Attitude Towards Marriage and Marital Success from the Perspective of Youth and Family Counselors. Family Counseling and Psychotherapy. 2023;12(2):37-62.
  33. Pietromonaco PR, Overall NC, Beck LA, Powers SI. Is Low Power Associated with Submission During Marital Conflict? Moderating Roles of Gender and Traditional Gender Role Beliefs. Soc Psychol Personal Sci. 2021;12(2):165-75. [In Persian].
  34. Borhart HM, Terrell HK. Perceptions of aggression are colored by gender roles. The Psychological Record. 2014;64:441-5.
  35. Lezhnina IP. The transformation of gender roles in today’s Russia. Sociological Research. 2014;53(5):13-31.
  36. Seiter LN, Nelson LJ. An examination of emerging adulthood in college students and nonstudents in India. Journal of Adolescent Research. 2011;26(4):506-36.
  37. Körner R, Schütz A. Power in romantic relationships: How positional and experienced power are associated with relationship quality. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. 2021;38(9):2653-77.
  38. Apostu I. Solidarity and individualism in the gender relations–the dilemma of the power relations within the contemporary couple. BRAIN Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience. 2023;14(2):321-36.
  39. Kulic N, Minello A, Zella S. Manage your money, be satisfied? Money management practices and financial satisfaction of couples through the lens of gender. Journal of Family Issues. 2020;41(9):1420-46.
  40. Liu L, Gou Z, Zuo J. Social support mediates loneliness and depression in elderly people. J Health Psychol. 2016;21(5):750-8.
Sadra Medical Journal
Volume 12, Issue 3
Summer 2024
Pages 414-430

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Guide for Reviewers

Contact Us