A Model of Marital Functioning Based on an Attraction Paradigm and Social-Penetration Dimensions

Abstract

Editor's note: In a departure from the typical sequence of events, which necessitates publishing comments and replies long after an article appears, the debate over the following article occurred during the review process. This made it possible to present the critic's feedback and the author's reply along with the article itself. The difference in the two approaches to structural equation modeling is an important topic in family research. Honeycutt and Godwin have sharpened and advanced the issue in their exchange. A structural equation model of maritalfunctioning based on an attraction paradigm and social-penetration variables was tested. The attraction paradigm has traditionally focused on factors related to attraction (e.g., perceived attitudinal similarity, proximity, and homogeneity), while social-penetration theory has stressed the importance of communication in developing relationships. The model posited that the attraction paradigm factors of being satisfied with marital issues and of perceived attitudinal similarity would have an impact upon marital happiness as well as perceived partner understanding, which would also affect marital happiness. The model also posited that social-penetration variables, operationally defined in terms of openness, attentiveness, flexibility, and expressiveness, would reflect communication effectiveness, which would lead to partner understanding as well as marital happiness. The model provided a good fit to the data. A further test of a nonrecursive model provided additional support for the model. Partner understanding mediated between attraction and social-penetration variables and marital happiness. The results are discussed in terms of the causal impact of theoretical variables and the use of more causal modeling for research in marital and relational communication. It has become fashionable to say that good communication is indicative of a healthy marriage. However, a closer look at the evidence shows that things are not as straightforward as they seem, and questions persist concerning the effect of such things as perceived attitudinal similarity and satisfaction with marital issues on general marital happiness. We do not know the effect of these variables when they are assessed holistically in a model of marital functioning. This report is about testing the relationship between communication variables, which are a central focus of social