Semantic and perceptual discrepancies in discordant and nondiscordant marriages

Abstract

Twenty discordant couples and 20 nondiscordant couples completed a definition inventory of marriage-related concepts and semantic differential ratings of marriage-related and nonrelated concepts. Group performances on each of these instruments were compared. In addition, the relationship of actual similarity, perceived or assumed similarity, and prediction accuracy to spouses' marital satisfaction was investigated. Actual similarity of denotative and connotative meanings did not contribute to satisfaction. On the other hand, nondiscordant spouses significantly predicted their spouses' responses more accurately and perceived more similarity than discordant spouses. Therapeutic implications of the research are discussed.