Research Paper: Final Draft Assignment Instructions
Overview
This assignment is the completion of the Research Paper: Final Draft Assignment. Using the graded Research Paper: Outline Assignment, you will write a 5–6-page paper addressing your subject from the Research Paper: Outline Assignment. The subject of your paper will be an issue a couple might bring to a marriage coach. You will provide research on topics related to this issue. You will also provide a coaching connection that shows understanding of coaching practices. This paper will help you to use research to develop an understanding of issues that impact a couple in crisis. You will also demonstrate how to create effective goals for the couple by understanding the process of coaching couples by working together towards outcomes.
This assignment will enable you to explore an area of interest in the field of marriage coaching in an in-depth manner and provide you with practice expressing his/her content knowledge in writing.
A Research Paper: Outline Template is provided to help you navigate through the format and layout of this assignment.
Instructions
- Use your graded Research Paper: Outline Assignment as a starting point for the final draft.
− A Title page, body page(s), and Reference page are required. Do not include an Abstract.
− The body of the paper will be 5-6 pages in length (not including the title page or reference page).
o The body of the paper will include an introduction paragraph, main topic A section with 2-3 subtopics, main topic B section with 2-3 subtopics, a coaching connection, Biblical integration, and conclusion.
o The Introduction clearly introduces the subject and topics in one paragraph.
o The body of the paper discusses at least three key sections for each main topic.
o Coaching Connection clearly connects the research to coaching practices.
o Biblical Integration clearly incorporates the topic into a biblical perspective.
o The Conclusion should end the paper in concise and formal writing.
− The paper must include at least 6 relevant, empirical, peer-reviewed research sources (written no earlier than 2005), in addition to the course textbooks, and The Holy Bible. These will be listed in alphabetical order on the reference page.
− Please limit the use of direct quotes in this assignment. Summarize or paraphrase your research in support of your ideas. Make sure to include current APA formatted citations where necessary.
− This formatting of this assignment must strictly adhere to current APA style.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
The Outline
Couples Counseling for Communication Problems
Introduction
Marriage is a significant event in an individual's life, and it is viewed as a family and community event in various cultures. When two people spend time together, differences will inevitably emerge. Couples bring a variety of attitudes, perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences to marriage. If the couple fails to perceive and articulate this difference, fighting, resentment, and fury may ensue. Thus, communication is the missing link in an unhappy marriage and a necessary instrument for marriage stabilization. Communication breakdowns can be attributed to a failure to listen to one's spouse's opinion, hiding crucial information from one spouse, using a harsh tone of voice during a talk, and an overpowering attitude, comparing one spouse with another and discussing past events.
Topic A: Poor Communication Skill
Scholars have recognized communication skills as a necessary component of a healthy marriage. Communication links the couples' unique and shared thoughts, feelings, experiences, dreams, and difficulties via spoken and non-verbal messages. When a couple does not engage or share information, a communication breakdown occurs. Communication difficulties manifest themselves in the inability to listen to the spouse's own opinion, withholding critical communication, and using a harsh tone or voice during conversation.
1. Not listening to spouse's own opinion.
According to Coduto and Eveland (2021), failing to listen to one's spouse's perspective and opinions makes one feel unimportant and rejected. If the habit becomes established, the spouse will withdraw and cease to sharing ideas to avoid the pain of rejection.
2. Withholding vital communication
According to Butler et al. (2010), hiding information about financial concerns, friends the spouse spends time with, and marital infidelity can erode trust, resulting in a severe emotional rift in the marriage.
3. Harsh Tone or voice during conversation
According to Esere and Oladun (2014), a spouse using a harsh tone when communicating with other spouses is factor ranked fourth that impairs communication and promotes unhappy marriages.
Topic B: Personality and Conversation to beat the other to submission
Communication is crucial to the model of relationship deterioration because intimate relationships are assumed to remain strong to the extent that couples respond to one another with sensitivity. Overbearing attitude, recalling past incidents, comparing one spouse to another, and being quick to presume ill will are some personality characteristics that contribute to communication difficulties in marriage.
1. Comparing one spouse with other
According to Esere and Oladun (2014), comparison impedes successful marital communication. The comparison will almost always elicit an emotional response from the couple being compared, which will likely bring the conversation to a halt.
2. Bring up memories of past events.
If a failure in the past is used to bully the other person into submission during an argument, it results in unproductive communication and the development of fights (Esere & Oladun, 2014).
3. Unbearable attitude
According to Lavner et al. (2016), a couple's attitude of blaming their partners or rationalizing harmful behaviors can generate communication difficulties and make others feel unfairly targeted.
Coaching Connection
While working with couples in crisis, the coach will employ a variety of tactics. These strategies include first providing assurance through understanding what the couple desires. Coaches must provide interpersonal support to the couple to foster mutual respect and understanding. The coach's motivation and promotion of an open and trusting environment will ensure that the couple expresses their concerns without fear. The coaching strategies such as using biblical verse based on client religious association, demonstrating support and developing trust, would assist the couple during a crisis in creating an open environment in which they can express their concerns openly without keeping information.
Biblical Integration
James 1:19 says “ everyone needs to be quick to listen, slow to talk, and slow to become angry”. Listening more than speaking is critical in resolving the majority of problems that people encounter, particularly when confronted. Ephesian 5:22–23, “women, submit to your husbands as to a lord, for the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and himself its saviors”. Numerous marriage conflicts arise when the two couples battle for equality and voice. Wives should submit and listen more since this will go a long way toward resolving marital conflicts.
Conclusion
Marriage is a significant event in an individual's life, and it is viewed as a family and community event in various cultures. Numerous marriage communication difficulties arise due to a lack of efficient communication skills, such as ineffective listening, the use of angry words, and withholding some facts. Unbearable attitude, discussion of past occurrences, and comparison of the spouse to another will all contribute to creating a crisis. Coaching skills such as guiding effective communication techniques and items to avoid while interacting as a couple will aid in resolving couple conflicts. James 1:19 and Ephesians 5:18 caution couples to listen more than they speak and always demonstrate respect. Wives can demonstrate respect by submitting to their husbands, as Christ expects all humans to do in the marriage union.
References
Birditt, K. S., Brown, E., Orbuch, T. L., & McIlvane, J. M. (2010). Marital Conflict Behaviors and Implications for Divorce over 16 Years. Journal of marriage and the family, 72(5), 1188–1204. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00758.x
Butler, M. H., Rodriguez, M. K. A., Roper, S. O., & Feinauer, L. L. (2010). Infidelity secrets in couple therapy: Therapists’ views on the collision of competing ethics around relationship-relevant secrets. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 17(2), 82-105.
Coduto, K. D., & Eveland, W. P. (2021). Listening and being listened to as affection exchange in marital discussions about the# MeToo movement. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 02654075211058402.
Esere, M. O., & Oladun, C. (2014). Obstacles and suggested solutions to effective communication in marriage as expressed by married adults in Kogi State, Nigeria. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 114, 584-592.
Lavner, J. A., Karney, B. R., & Bradbury, T. N. (2016). Does Couples' Communication Predict Marital Satisfaction, or Does Marital Satisfaction Predict Communication?. Journal of marriage and the family, 78(3), 680–694. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12301
Pagis, M. (2021). Inhabiting the self-work romantic utopia: positive psychology, life coaching, and the challenge of self-fulfillment at work. Work and Occupations, 48(1), 40-69.
Uwom-Ajaegbu, O. O., Emmanuel, O., & Lekan Ajaegbu, C. P. (2015). An empirical study on the causes and effects of communication breakdown in marriages. Journal of Sound Islamic Thoughts, 1(1), 46-51.
