8.1: Marriage and Intimate Relationships Cont.
- Page ID
- 305580
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Marriage and Long-Term Relationships
Marriage and long-term relationships in the twenty-first century are more flexible and diverse than ever before. While the institution has adapted to changing cultural norms, it continues to hold deep personal and social significance. Understanding the sociological, psychological, and emotional dimensions of marriage helps individuals make informed choices about their relationships and appreciate the ongoing balance between love, commitment, and social structure that defines partnership in modern life.
Marriage is a social construction, a unit of importance that has changed in meaning and function over time and across cultures. It can also serve as a status symbol; even though fewer people are marrying today, marriage retains symbolic and practical importance. For some, it is a social institution that serves critical societal functions. People marry for many reasons and in differing ways, making it difficult to define a single purpose for marriage in contemporary life. Reflecting on your own views, consider which of these perspectives you find most accurate and why. How would you describe the role of marriage in society today?
Different perspectives on marriage correspond to various sociological theories. Conflict theory highlights power and opposition within families and society as necessary forces for development and change. Ecological systems theory emphasizes that individuals are part of nested systems that shape their growth and development. Social exchange theory considers how individuals evaluate the benefits and costs of relationships. Feminist theory examines how society privileges men over women and seeks to understand and transform inequalities. Functionalism focuses on how social institutions work together to meet individual and group needs. Other frameworks, such as hierarchy of needs, life course, postmodern perspectives, and symbolic interactionism, provide additional ways to understand the evolving meaning and role of marriage.
By considering these theories and examining contemporary trends, individuals can better understand the dynamics of modern marriage and family life. Marriage remains one pathway to building families, creating social bonds, and providing mutual support. Engaging critically with the institution of marriage allows individuals to make choices that align with their values, needs, and aspirations, while appreciating the complex social forces that shape relationships today.
Theory |
Major Principles |
| Conflict | Opposition, power, and conflict within the family and society are needed for society to develop and change |
| Ecological Systems | Individuals are part of a group of concentric systems that impact their development and growth. |
| Exchange (aka Social Exchange) | Individuals have different strengths, resources and weaknesses and enter into relationships via the evaluation of benefits and costs. |
| Feminism (aka Feminist) | Society is structured in a way that privileges men over women; the theory works to understand and to transform inequalities. |
| Functionalism | Social institutions function together in order to meet individual and group needs. |
| Hierarchy of Needs | Individuals meet one set of needs first in order to be motivated and able to achieve other needs. |
| Life Course | Significant social and historical events shape the trajectories of birth cohorts and the individuals in them. |
| Postmodern (aka Modernity) | Choice and individuality are emphasized in the postmodern era. Humans are able to act in the way they choose with society and within institutions. |
| Symbolic Interaction | This theory focuses on the changing nature of symbols and the ways we interact with one another based on those symbols. Humans see themselves through the eyes of others and this affects the roles they play. |