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Comparing Lesbian and Heterosexual Couples on the Circumplex Model: An Initial Investigation
Author(s) -
ZACKS ELLIE,
GREEN ROBERTJAY,
MARROW JOANNE
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
family process
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.011
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1545-5300
pISSN - 0014-7370
DOI - 10.1111/j.1545-5300.1988.00471.x
Subject(s) - lesbian , psychology , population , socialization , social psychology , adaptability , heterosexuality , cohesion (chemistry) , developmental psychology , homosexuality , sociology , demography , psychoanalysis , ecology , biology , chemistry , organic chemistry
This study extends the research on the Circumplex Model to a population of lesbian couples. Instruments consisted of a demographic questionnaire, FACES III, and the Family Satisfaction Scale. Lesbian couples reported significantly higher levels of cohesion, adaptability, and satisfaction than did heterosexual couples. Exceptionally high levels of cohesion and adaptability may help lesbian couples function more successfully in a predominantly heterosexual world. Further, women's socialization may predispose female couples to form more cohesive and adaptable relationships than heterosexual couples. This article also emphasizes the cultural relativity of family norms for studies of lesbian and all minority population couples.