CODE | LAS1026 | ||||||
TITLE | Couple Relationships in Contemporary Society | ||||||
UM LEVEL | I - Introductory Level | ||||||
MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||
ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||
DEPARTMENT | Centre for the Liberal Arts and Sciences | ||||||
DESCRIPTION | This Unit will further the participants’ understanding of how our intimate relationships are of vital importance to the well-being of adults, children and to society as a whole. It will offer a deeper appreciation of key couple dynamics including processes involved in partner choice, attachment bonding, and constructive resolution of couple conflict, taking a life cycle perspective. The Unit will also take into account the diversity of partner relationships in contemporary society. In addition, this Unit will offer participants the opportunity to reflect on their own partner relationships and to be engaged in discussions which link clinical thinking with research knowledge. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the Unit the student will be able to: - Appreciate how intimate relationships work; - Contextualize couple relationships in the midst of some of the global, demographic, economic, social and cultural changes in our Maltese society. 2. Skills: By the end of the Unit the student will be able to: - Identify communication skills that enhance and hinder relationships; - Apply the theoretical concepts to their personal relationship contexts and become more reflexive of their input in relationships. Main Text/s: - Abela, A., & Walker, J. (2014). Contemporary issues in family studies. Global perspectives on partnerships, parenting, and support in a changing world. London: Wiley Blackwell. Supplementary reading: - Balfour, A., Morgan, M., & Vincent, C. (2012). How couple relationships shape our world: clinical practice, research and policy perspectives. London: Karnac . - Gotmann, J. M. & Levenson, R. W. (1999). What predicts change in marital interaction over time. A study of alternative models. Family Process, 38(2), 143- 158. - Rauer, A. & Volling, B. (2013). More than one way to be happy. A typology of marital happiness. Family Process, 52, 519- 534. |
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STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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LECTURER/S | Angela Abela Charlene Duca Tania Farrugia Thomas Galea Ingrid Lanfranco Elaine Schembri Lia Victoria Spagnol |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |