How does perception of secrets influence the construction of marriage when having experienced parental divorce ?

Details

Supervisors

De Mol, Jan

Faculty

Faculté de psychologie, logopédie, sexologie et des sciences de la famille

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences psychologiques

Abstract

The research project investigates the research question of ‘how can the perception of secrets influence the construction of marriage when having experienced parental divorce’. Empirical studies have reported for many years that adult children from divorced parents will have higher risks of having their own marriage end in divorce. Furthermore, adult children from divorced parents will experience more negative effects throughout their lives. Further yet, literature suggests that due to the parental divorce communication skills will not be sufficient enough when having to deal with their own marriage conflicts. Is this how secrets come to emerge in marriage? For the research study at hand a qualitative research method with an inductive approach was used to analyse the data. Using a qualitative method with an inductive approach means the researcher generates hypothesis the researcher does not test hypothesis. With the help of semi-structured interviews of which five participants participated, data was analysed. Results report that participants do not feel that their communicational skills are insufficient to deal with quarrels. Moreover they have not experienced damaging secrets within their marriage. Results also reveal that secrets within marriage are accepted, but it depends of the nature of the secret. To answer the research question it can be hypothesised as follow; when having been married for a significant amount of years and experienced parental divorce, a secret holder will reveal the secrets much easier due to the construction of satisfying communication skills that were acquired throughout the years.