Essay Quiz


1			You have been asked to address a local community group on developing meaningful relationships in young adulthood. Among the topics you have been asked to discuss are developmental norms in young adulthood, ways to recognize healthy and unhealthy relationships, and how to create healthy relationships. What will you tell these people?




2			You have been caught in the middle of an ongoing argument between the men and the women in your family. The men in your family state that cohabitation is an effective way to "test" marriage before a couple gets engaged. The women believe that if you cohabitate, then there is no incentive to get engaged or married. Who is right? Use the research on cohabitation and marriage to help solve this argument.




3			Gottman's research on marital satisfaction has identified several main principles that determine whether or not a marriage will work. Apply these principles to design a premarital counseling program to increase marital satisfaction and reduce the possibility of divorce. Use each principle to create concrete recommendations to help couples relate more effectively to each other.




4			Twenty-year-old Mary is convinced that she cannot maintain a romantic relationship because of her ongoing turbulent relationship with her father. As Mary explains, "I have never had a good relationship with my Dad; I have been sad, nervous, and lonely my whole life. If I could work things out with my Dad, then I would be able to keep a boyfriend." Use your knowledge of childhood influences on adult relationships to respond to Mary's comments. To what extent does childhood attachment influence adult relationships?




5			While eating dinner, Lisa asks her husband, "How was your day?" Her husband, Cory, responds, "I had two meetings, finished a couple of little projects, and met with a new client." Cory then goes back to eating and picks up the newspaper to glance at while he finishes his meal. Lisa immediately becomes upset and cries, "You never want to talk to me!" Confused, Cory replies, "I thought we were done talking." Use your knowledge of gender and communication to analyze this interaction. How can Tannen's research on communication strategies be applied to understand this situation? What does the research on women's and men's development tell us about differential approaches to relationships and intimacy?

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