Stories of Commitment: How We Came to to be Married

• Author / Creator

  Way, Brian David

• How do couples know and decide to be married? This question is posed to three couples who made such a decision. The research reviews the development of romantic relationships and commitment, psychological theories and frameworks for couple counselling, and secular and theological understandings of marriage. Narrative inquiry was used to capture the stories and develop themes. Five themes emerged from the research: catalysts which advanced the development of a particular relationship; acceptance of the other without the need to have the other change; the development of relationship priority over the individual’s; the presence of fear and trust in moving closer to the commitment of marriage; and a sense of destiny. Knowledge of these factors can assist couples and their significant confidants in helping couples discern how they know and decide about marriage.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Counselling
  • Commitment
  • Engagement
  • Couples
  • Marriage

• Graduation date

  Fall 2017

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Psychotherapy and Spirituality

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3HQ3SD94

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.