Similarity, complementarity and difference of marital couples in problem and non problem areas

A comparison of the emotional traits of 30 marital couples in need of psychotherapeutic treatment revealed no significant differences as to the degree of similarity, complementarity and difference between them. When these variables were subdivided into problem and non problem areas, significantly more similarity and difference with problems were found to exist. When husband and wife each rate themselves they manifest less problems as a group than those couples where each rate themselves and their mate, or the couple group where each only rates their mate. The spouses tend to rate their mates in a more negative manner than the mates rate themselves. In assessing a marital relationship it may be insufficient to compare the traits of each spouse individually. It appears also necessary to compare how each rates themselves and their mates on the same traits. An additional finding is that while the couples do not tend to complement one another on emotional traits, one spouse tends to compensate for the problems of the other by manifesting more non problems.