Fusion and Conflict Resolution in Lesbian Relationships

Causby, Vickie; Lockhart, Lettie L.; White, Barbara; Greene, Kathryn

doi:10.1300/j041v03n01_06

Cited by 12 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 0 publications

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“…The finding that both gay and lesbian couples sometimes withdraw support from a depressed partner is an important departure from past psychological studies depicting lesbian partners as overly dependent on each other and “emotionally fused” to the detriment of both partners (Burch, 1982; Causby et al, 1995; Krestan & Bepko, 1980). This finding is also an important caveat to Thomeer and colleagues’ research which found that only heterosexual men, not heterosexual women, withdrew from their depressed partners (Thomeer et al, 2013) and is in line with research by Oliffe and others who find that heterosexual women sometimes provide “tough love” for depressed husbands as a self-protection strategy (Bottorff et al, 2013; Oliffe et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Relationship dynamics around depression in gay and lesbian couples

Thomeer

Reczek

Umberson

2015

Social Science & Medicine

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Research on intimate relationship dynamics around depression has primarily focused on heterosexual couples. This body of work shows that wives are more likely than husbands to offer support to a depressed spouse. Moreover, when wives are depressed, they are more likely than husbands to try and shield their spouse from the stress of their own depression. Yet, previous research has not examined depression and relationship dynamics in gay and lesbian couples. We analyze in-depth interviews with 26 gay and lesbian couples (N = 52 individuals) in which one or both partners reported depression. We find evidence that dominant gender scripts are both upheld and challenged within gay and lesbian couples, providing important insight into how gender operates in relation to depression within same-sex contexts. Our results indicate that most gay and lesbian partners offer support to a depressed partner, yet lesbian couples tend to follow a unique pattern in that they provide support both as the non-depressed and depressed partner. Support around depression is sometimes viewed as improving the relationship, but if the support is intensive or rejected, it is often viewed as contributing to relationship strain. Support is also sometimes withdrawn by the non-depressed partner because of caregiver exhaustion or the perception that the support is unhelpful. This study points to the importance of considering depression within gay and lesbian relational contexts, revealing new ways support sustains and strains intimate partnerships. We emphasize the usefulness of deploying couple-level approaches to better understand depression in sexual minority populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Relationship dynamics around depression in gay and lesbian couples

Thomeer

Reczek

Umberson

2015

Social Science & Medicine

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“…Moreover, the degree of fusion is often assumed to be high in most or all lesbian relationships. However, the findings of Causby, Lockhart, White, and Greene (1995) and Kurdek (1988) contradicted this expectation. Moreover, Causby et al (1995) reported that some couples who are high in fusion are nevertheless satisfied with their relationships.…”

Section: Fusion In Lesbian Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 88%

The Nature and Function of Fusion in the Dynamics of Lesbian Relationships

Greene

Causby²,

Miller³

1999

Affilia

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Although much has been written about the problem of fusion in relationships, especially among lesbians, there is little evidence of its prevalence in the nonclinical lesbian community or information about the function it may serve in lesbian relationships. This study examined the frequency of fusion in lesbian and heterosexual women's relationships and the relationship of fusion to other relational variables. The study found that there were no differences between lesbian and heterosexual women's levels of fusion and that fusion was strongly related to both satisfaction and dependence.two women together is a work nothing in civilization has made simple (Rich, 1978, p. 35) In the growing body of literature on the nature of conflict in lesbian relationships, researchers have often focused on the balance of power between female partners. For example, Renzetti's (1989) contention that dependence is a correlate of abuse resembles the characterization of the interpersonal dynamics of lesbian relationships in much of the literature on merging or fusion (terms that are used interchangeably in the psychological literature and in this article). Fusion is frequently identified as a source of conflict in lesbian couples, yet articles on fusion often Downloaded from fail to define the word conflict or to investigate the possibility that it encompasses behaviors other than normal healthy arguing.This article explores the role of fusion in women's relationships. First, it reviews the affect of socialization on lesbian relationships. Then it presents not only the authors' study of the frequency of reported fusion among lesbians and heterosexual women, but also it illustrates other relational characteristics that are related to fusion.

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“…Next, participants were asked to signify on a five-point Likert-like scale the degree to which they believed emotional, cognitive, and sexual merger contributed to their overall feeling of relationship satisfaction. Lastly, because merger has been conceptualized as a lack of tolerance for dissimilarity or disagreement (Causby, Lockhart, White, & Greene, 1995), we asked participants to indicate on a five-point Likert-like scale the frequency with which they did not understand each other's feelings and thoughts and the frequency with which each felt emotionally and mentally removed during a sexual encounter.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%