Assessment and Modification of Marital Communication

Our aim in this paper is to provide researchers and practitioners with a brief overview of current approaches to the assessment and treatment of dysfunctional communication in marriage. In our discussion of assessment, we examine four basic types of procedures: questionnaires, self-monitoring techniques, interviews and techniques involving the direct observation of interaction. We conclude that both insider (spouses' perceptions and interpretations gathered through self-report and self-monitoring) and outsider (direct observation of interaction) provide different but equally valid information about the relationship. Therapists and researchers are encouraged to use both types of information. Our discussion of therapeutic techniques includes the three major components of Behavioural Marital Therapy (BMT): Behaviour Exchange, Communication Training and Problem-Solving Training. We also focus on the importance of considering spouses' cognitions and emotional reactions, particularly those related to sex roles, when designing therapeutic approaches. Issues related to assessing the efficacy of therapy outcome are also discussed