Module 7:
APPLYING
THEORIES TO
LONGDISTANCE
RELATIONSHIPS
Introduction
It is a fact that a lot of couples endure long-distance relationships for a number of reasons. It
might be because of work in order to provide for the family. After discussing the theories and
frameworks that may be used to study marriages and families, let us now look into its
application in every day scenarios especially with handling long-distance relationships.
Course Objectives
At the end of this module, the students will be able to:
1. Increase greater learning and knowledge in handling long-distance relationships; 1.
Develop awareness in managing long-distance relationships; and
2. Improve strategies in handling long-distance relationships.
Application of the Theories
THEORY APPLIED TO LONG-DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS
How do characteristics of each partner’s living environment
Family Ecology
affect the ability to maintain a commitment?
How do couples handle the transition to a long-distance
Family Development
relationship?
What meaning do couples attach to being separated? How
Symbolic Interaction does this alter their perception of the relationship?
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How do partners define the costs and rewards associated
Social Exchange
with their relationship?
How does physical separation maintain or threaten the
Structural Functionalism
stability of the relationship?
To what extent does one partner benefit more from being
Conflict
apart?
How does being physically separated make it difficult for a
Family
couple to communicate?
Feminist How are women and men differently affected by separation?
A. FAMILY ECOLOGY THEORY
• Examines how families are influenced by and influenced the wider environments in
which they function.
• How is family life affected by the environments in which families live?
Brofenbrenner: Ecologically Based Theory of Human Development
The environment to which individuals adapt as they develop consists of four levels that make
up the environments in which we live:
• MICROSYSTEM – The most immediate influences with which individuals have
frequent contact.
• MESOSYSTEM – Interconnections between microsystems.
• EXOSYSTEM – Settings in which the individual does not participate but which affect
development.
• MACROSYSTEM – The laws, customs, attitudes, and beliefs of the wider society
which influence individual development and experience.
B. FAMILY DEVELOPMENT THEORY
• Looks at the changes in the family, beginning with marriage and proceeding through
seven sequential stages.
• Gives us insight into the complexities of family life and the interacting influences of
changing roles and circumstances.
C. SYMBOLIC INTERACTION THEORY
• Examines how people interact and how we interpret other’s actions through the
symbols they communicate (words, gestures, and actions).
Drawbacks to Symbolic Interaction Theory
• The tendency to minimize power in relationships.
• The failure to account fully for the psychological aspects of human life.
• Emphasis on individualism and personal fulfillment at the expense of the marital or
family unit.
• Inadequate attention to the social context.
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D. SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY
• Suggests we measure our actions and relationships on a cost-benefit basis.
• Exchanges must balance out, or hard feelings can result.
• Exchanges in marriage can be either cooperative or competitive.
Criticisms of Social Exchange Theory
• It assumes individuals are rational and calculating in relationships.
• It says that the value of costs, rewards, and resources can be gauged.
3 Ways Partners Restore Equity in a Relationship
• Attempt to restore equity in the relationship.
• Attempt to restore psychological equity by trying to convince themselves and others
that an obviously inequitable relationship is actually equitable.
• Decide to end the relationship.
Applying Social Exchange Theory to Marital Outcomes
• Attractiveness to Relationship
1. Depends on rewards and costs.
2. Rewards include love, support, security, sexual intimacy, and material goods and
services
3. Costs may include being in a relationship that causes emotional or physical suffering,
increased and unequal responsibility, lack of freedom, or absence of rewards.
• Attractiveness of Alternatives
1. Alternatives can be a new partner—whether in marriage or something more casual,
greater freedom as a single person, or the chance to focus on a career instead of
remaining married.
2. If we perceive greater rewards in an alternative, we will think about and/or seek a
divorce.
• Barriers to Divorce
1. Barriers to divorce may be understood as costs associated with leaving the marriage.
2. If the costs of leaving and/or the costs of staying, Exchange Theory would predict that
we would stay, even unhappily, married.
Importance of Eight Perceived Barriers to Divorce
BARRIER “VERY IMPORTANT” (%)
Child Suffering 50.1
No loss of child 46.0
Religious Beliefs 41.4
Dependence on spouse 32.9
Spouse’s dependence 30.5
Financial security 24.1
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Reluctance to leave residence 18.7
Family and friends 11.6
E. STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM THEORY
Study three aspects of the family:
• Functions the family services for society.
• Functional requirements performed by the family for its survival.
• Needs of individual members that are met by the family.
Criticisms of Structural Functionalism Theory
• Inability to test the theory empirically.
• Difficulty in ascertaining what function a particular structure serves.
• Conservative bias against viewing change as functional.
F. CONFLICT THEORY
• Assumes individuals in marriages and families are in conflict and power is often used
to resolve the conflict.
• Four important sources of power:
1. Legitimacy
2. Money
3. Physical coercion
4. Love
Criticism of Conflict Theory
• Politically based view of human nature.
• Assumption that differences lead to conflict.
• Difficulty in measuring and evaluating conflict.
G. FAMILY SYSYTEMS THEORY
• Approaches the family in terms of its structure and pattern of interactions.
• Interactions must be studied in the context of the family.
• Family structure can be seen only in the family’s interactions.
• The family is a system purposely seeking homeostasis (stability).
• Family systems are transformed over time.
H. FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE THEORY
• Provides a focus for considering gender differences relating to family and social
issues.
• Goals are to help clarify and remove oppressive conditions and barriers to
opportunities for women.
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• Postmodern feminist position has been expanded to include constraints affecting
black/white and gay/straight dichotomies.
RESEARCH ON THE FAMILY
• Family researchers use the scientific method to collect information
• They may use a quantitative or qualitative method of research
• Research data come from surveys, clinical studies and direct observation
SURVEYS
• Useful for dealing with societal or general issues rather than personal or small-group
issues
• Inherent problems:
• Volunteer bias or an unrepresentative sample
• Individuals’ lack of self-knowledge
• Underreporting of undesirable or unconventional behavior
CLINICAL RESEARCH
• In-depth examinations in a clinical setting for the treatment of psychological or
relationship problems
• Primary disadvantage is that the people coming into a clinic are not representative of
the general population
TYPES OF RESEARCH
• Observational research
• Interpersonal behavior is examined in a natural setting by an unobtrusive observer
• Experimental research
• Of limited use in marriage and family research because of the difficulty of controlling
behavior and duplicating real-life conditions
ANALYZING FAMILY DYNAMICS
In looking at the family as a system:
• Interactions must be studied in the context of the family system
• The family has a structure that can only be seen in its interactions
• The family is a purposeful system; it has a goal
• Despite resistance to change, each family system is transformed over time
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