Sustaining marriage in a post-traditional, postmodern world
| dc.contributor.advisor | Neff, Kristin | en |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Richardson, Frank C. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Schallert, Diane | en |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Slife, Brent | en |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Glenn, Norval | en |
| dc.creator | Kinney, Stephen Watts | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2011-06-20T21:49:18Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2011-06-20T21:49:18Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2011-06-20T21:49:27Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2011-05 | en |
| dc.date.submitted | May 2011 | en |
| dc.date.updated | 2011-06-20T21:49:27Z | en |
| dc.description | text | en |
| dc.description.abstract | Much contemporary research and theory on marriage focuses on observable patterns of interactions and tries to delineate sequential patterns of behavior that differentiate distressed from non-distressed couples. There is, however, a notable lack of theorizing about the data beyond “theories” that offer little more than empirical generalizations. In their latest Sourcebook (2004), The National Council on Family Relations recognizes the need to develop broader integrative frameworks to guide research in this field. This theoretical dissertation questions some of the dominant assumptions and theoretical orientations in the field of marriage research and explores how we might rethink how contemporary marriage and its goods are conceptualized as part of the search for more sustainable marriage and family policies and practices. Questions about marriage are situated in a larger socio-cultural and historical perspective. Section One identifies ethical ideals and moral goods associated with a vii number of the prominent traditional epochs in Western culture prior to the Enlightenment. Section Two explores the changes in marriage brought about by the transition from a traditional, hierarchical worldview to the modern outlook that prioritizes the inherent dignity and rights of individuals that frequently need to be defended against the tradition. Section Three develops a theoretical framework for dealing with a seemingly intractable dilemma. On one hand, many continue to feel that marriage and family life incorporate genuine goods that should be preserved, in some form, for their own sake and the larger good. On the other hand, traditional ideals appear riddled with elements of inequality and irrational authority that make them unacceptable in a modern liberal democracy. It is argued that many of the proposed ways for overcoming or coping with this dilemma are inadequate. Finally, the dissertation argues that hermeneutic and dialogical approaches to understanding human action may offer resources for making some real headway in resolving these dilemmas. These approaches complement one another and suggest what might be a credible way “beyond objectivism and relativism” (Bernstein, 1983) that allows us to affirm certain substantive goods of marriage and family life that carry real weight but also might be found acceptable in a post-traditional, postmodern world.Much contemporary research and theory on marriage focuses on observable patterns of interactions and tries to delineate sequential patterns of behavior that differentiate distressed from non-distressed couples. There is, however, a notable lack of theorizing about the data beyond “theories” that offer little more than empirical generalizations. In their latest Sourcebook (2004), The National Council on Family Relations recognizes the need to develop broader integrative frameworks to guide research in this field. This theoretical dissertation questions some of the dominant assumptions and theoretical orientations in the field of marriage research and explores how we might rethink how contemporary marriage and its goods are conceptualized as part of the search for more sustainable marriage and family policies and practices. Questions about marriage are situated in a larger socio-cultural and historical perspective. Section One identifies ethical ideals and moral goods associated with a vii number of the prominent traditional epochs in Western culture prior to the Enlightenment. Section Two explores the changes in marriage brought about by the transition from a traditional, hierarchical worldview to the modern outlook that prioritizes the inherent dignity and rights of individuals that frequently need to be defended against the tradition. Section Three develops a theoretical framework for dealing with a seemingly intractable dilemma. On one hand, many continue to feel that marriage and family life incorporate genuine goods that should be preserved, in some form, for their own sake and the larger good. On the other hand, traditional ideals appear riddled with elements of inequality and irrational authority that make them unacceptable in a modern liberal democracy. It is argued that many of the proposed ways for overcoming or coping with this dilemma are inadequate. Finally, the dissertation argues that hermeneutic and dialogical approaches to understanding human action may offer resources for making some real headway in resolving these dilemmas. These approaches complement one another and suggest what might be a credible way “beyond objectivism and relativism” (Bernstein, 1983) that allows us to affirm certain substantive goods of marriage and family life that carry real weight but also might be found acceptable in a post-traditional, postmodern world.Much contemporary research and theory on marriage focuses on observable patterns of interactions and tries to delineate sequential patterns of behavior that differentiate distressed from non-distressed couples. There is, however, a notable lack of theorizing about the data beyond “theories” that offer little more than empirical generalizations. In their latest Sourcebook (2004), The National Council on Family Relations recognizes the need to develop broader integrative frameworks to guide research in this field. This theoretical dissertation questions some of the dominant assumptions and theoretical orientations in the field of marriage research and explores how we might rethink how contemporary marriage and its goods are conceptualized as part of the search for more sustainable marriage and family policies and practices. Questions about marriage are situated in a larger socio-cultural and historical perspective. Section One identifies ethical ideals and moral goods associated with a vii number of the prominent traditional epochs in Western culture prior to the Enlightenment. Section Two explores the changes in marriage brought about by the transition from a traditional, hierarchical worldview to the modern outlook that prioritizes the inherent dignity and rights of individuals that frequently need to be defended against the tradition. Section Three develops a theoretical framework for dealing with a seemingly intractable dilemma. On one hand, many continue to feel that marriage and family life incorporate genuine goods that should be preserved, in some form, for their own sake and the larger good. On the other hand, traditional ideals appear riddled with elements of inequality and irrational authority that make them unacceptable in a modern liberal democracy. It is argued that many of the proposed ways for overcoming or coping with this dilemma are inadequate. Finally, the dissertation argues that hermeneutic and dialogical approaches to understanding human action may offer resources for making some real headway in resolving these dilemmas. These approaches complement one another and suggest what might be a credible way “beyond objectivism and relativism” (Bernstein, 1983) that allows us to affirm certain substantive goods of marriage and family life that carry real weight but also might be found acceptable in a post-traditional, postmodern world.Much contemporary research and theory on marriage focuses on observable patterns of interactions and tries to delineate sequential patterns of behavior that differentiate distressed from non-distressed couples. There is, however, a notable lack of theorizing about the data beyond “theories” that offer little more than empirical generalizations. In their latest Sourcebook (2004), The National Council on Family Relations recognizes the need to develop broader integrative frameworks to guide research in this field. This theoretical dissertation questions some of the dominant assumptions and theoretical orientations in the field of marriage research and explores how we might rethink how contemporary marriage and its goods are conceptualized as part of the search for more sustainable marriage and family policies and practices. Questions about marriage are situated in a larger socio-cultural and historical perspective. Section One identifies ethical ideals and moral goods associated with a vii number of the prominent traditional epochs in Western culture prior to the Enlightenment. Section Two explores the changes in marriage brought about by the transition from a traditional, hierarchical worldview to the modern outlook that prioritizes the inherent dignity and rights of individuals that frequently need to be defended against the tradition. Section Three develops a theoretical framework for dealing with a seemingly intractable dilemma. On one hand, many continue to feel that marriage and family life incorporate genuine goods that should be preserved, in some form, for their own sake and the larger good. On the other hand, traditional ideals appear riddled with elements of inequality and irrational authority that make them unacceptable in a modern liberal democracy. It is argued that many of the proposed ways for overcoming or coping with this dilemma are inadequate. Finally, the dissertation argues that hermeneutic and dialogical approaches to understanding human action may offer resources for making some real headway in resolving these dilemmas. These approaches complement one another and suggest what might be a credible way “beyond objectivism and relativism” (Bernstein, 1983) that allows us to affirm certain substantive goods of marriage and family life that carry real weight but also might be found acceptable in a post-traditional, postmodern world. | en |
| dc.description.department | Educational Psychology | en |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2152/ETD-UT-2011-05-3256 | en |
| dc.language.iso | eng | en |
| dc.subject | Marriage sustainability | en |
| dc.subject | Postmodern | en |
| dc.subject | Traditional | en |
| dc.title | Sustaining marriage in a post-traditional, postmodern world | en |
| dc.type.genre | thesis | en |
| thesis.degree.department | Educational Psychology | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Educational Psychology | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | University of Texas at Austin | en |
| thesis.degree.level | Doctoral | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Doctor of Philosophy | en |