Epigenetic Model of Marital Expectations

Abstract

The Epigenetic model of understanding marital expectations of Bhatti focuses on the domains of (a) expectations from the partner, (b) expectations from marriage, (c) expectations of and from the partner's family of origin, (d) expectations of the institution of marriage, and (e) the concept of an ''ideal partner,'' and helps in understanding how martial expectations are influenced by various factors in the person's life. The underlying assumption is that the spouses enter the marriage with expectations (on all the above mentioned domains), which are facts and exist at a conscious level in the social reality. These indicators further evolve, refine, and change across the span of the marriage. This model has formed the framework for marital therapy and other interventions. This paper highlights the application of this model in marital therapy with couples with marital dysfunction.

Marital Expectations in Strong African American Marriages

“…Participants' perspectives of relationship expectation growth provide some support for Juvva and Bhatti's () epigenetic model of marital expectations. Introducing the epigenetic principle in the social sciences, Erikson () explained:

Somewhat generalized, the [epigenetic] principle states that anything that grows has a ground plan, and that out of this ground plan the parts arise, each part having its time of special ascendancy, until all parts have arisen to form a functioning whole.

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“…Juvva and Bhatti () proposed that marriage expectations, too, begin with a ground plan as couples “… enter marriage and form a dyad and a pattern of interactions, which further is elaborated upon to incorporate changes and accommodations within the family system” (p. 65). Changes in structure and processes in the system can occur as a “family grows in size and moves on its life cycle” (Juvva & Bhatti, , p. 65).…”

“…Marital expectations can be conceptualized as strong beliefs about how a marriage “should be” (Juvva & Bhatti, ) and if expectations are distorted (e.g., unrealistic or extreme) they can contribute to marital distress (Laner & Russell, ). Spouses enter a marital union with a myriad of “their own experiences of living and interacting in a family, their experiences and exposure to both parental and marital models, and their own conceptions of how marriage ‘should be’ drawn from these past experiences” (Juvva & Bhatti, , p. 64). To measure marital expectations researchers have asked participants to self‐report their personal beliefs (Sharp & Ganong, ), views (Jones & Nelson, ), or expectations (Laner & Russell, ) about marriage.…”

Marital Expectations and Marital Satisfaction Between African Immigrant and United States Born Married Couples

“…The institution of marriage carries with it expectations of loyalty, respect to each other; reproduction and nurturing of children; establishment and maintenance of the home; the shared roles in running the household; and the evolution of the woman within the marriage (Juvva & Bhatti, 2006). These may be sources of unmet expectations and marital dissatisfaction.…”

Do Namoro ao Casamento: Significados, Expectativas, Conflito e Amor

“…De acordo com Baucom et al (1996), as expectativas são "previsões sobre o futuro da relação em áreas específicas do funcionamento conjugal" (p. 210). Para a sua construção contribuem variáveis como as normas sociais e o contexto sociocultural em que se vive (Juvva & Bhatti, 2006), a estrutura e as experiências familiares desde a infância (Flouri & Buchanan, 2001; Morris & Carter, 1999), as experiências com os pares e as relações românticas que se vão estabelecendo (Hall, 2006;Shulman, Rosenheim, & Knafo, 1999) e ainda os meios de comunicação social (Holmes & Johnson, 2009).…”