Describe the three types of empty-shell marriages as identified by John F. Cuber and Peggy B. Harroff

What will be an ideal response?


In empty-shell marriages, the spouses feel no strong attachments to each other. Outside pressures keep the marriage together rather than feelings of warmth and attraction between the partners. John F. Cuber and Peggy B. Harroff have identified three types of empty-shell marriages. They are:
1. Devitalized relationship: In a devitalized relationship, husband and wife lack excitement or any real interest in each other or their marriage. Boredom and apathy characterize this relationship. Serious arguments are rare.

2. Conflict habituated relationship: In a conflict habituated relationship, husband and wife frequently quarrel in private, or they may also quarrel in public, or they may put up a façade of being compatible. The relationship is characterized by considerable conflict, tension, and bitterness.

3. Passive-congenial relationship: In a passive-congenial relationship, both partners are not happy but are content with their lives and generally feel adequate. The partners may have some interests in common, but those interests are generally insignificant. The spouses contribute little to each other's real satisfactions. This type of relationship generally has little overt conflict.

The atmosphere in empty-shell marriages is usually joyless. Members do not share and discuss their problems or experiences with each other. Communication is kept to a minimum. There is seldom any spontaneous expression of affection. Children in such families are usually starved for love and reluctant to have friends over to visit because they are embarrassed about how their parents interact.?

Social Work & Human Services

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The main reason we need to know the research design employed in an evaluative study is that we will be in a better position to determine whether ______.

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Social Work & Human Services