What does the Role Relationship category measure? 

The Role Relationship category evaluates an individual’s beliefs, attitudes and feelings about marital and family roles. A high individual score on roles indicates the person prefers an equalitarian role relationship, while a low individual score indicates the person prefers a more traditional role relationship. 

What is the difference between equalitarian and traditional roles? 

An equalitarian role relationship is one in which partners desire a shared approach to leadership and decision-making. The distribution of household tasks and responsibilities is determined by interests and skills rather than by traditional male/female roles. 

Couples in a traditional role relationship prefer roles that are based on the husband being more dominant in leadership and decision-making. The husband may be the main breadwinner, while the wife typically stays home and does housework and childcare. 

Unique Scoring of Positive Couple Agreement (PCA) for this Category 

A couple can get a high PCA score if both partner’s revised individual scores are both high or both low. A high PCA score does not necessarily indicate that the couple has equalitarian roles, it simply means both partners agree on the type of role they prefer – equalitarian or traditional. 

Why is the Special Focus category marked ‘Not Applicable’ in the Computer Report? 

There are no Special Focus items for Role Relationship because either a high or low individual score can be positive. Since there are no Special Focus items in this category the administrator should instead focus on items where the partners disagree. 

Why are roles important to discuss? 

Roles are an important area to discuss because they directly affect each partner’s behaviours and responsibilities in everyday life. This category encompasses a variety of issues from household chores and child-care, to leadership and decision-making. 

All of these issues have the potential to create conflict and tension in a relationship if both partners don’t agree on how their roles should be defined and implemented. 
 

· If a couple has a high PCA score and both have low revised individual scores (REV), then both people are saying they want a traditional relationship. 

· If a couple has a high PCA score and both have high REV scores, then both people are saying they want an equalitarian relationship. 

· If a couple has a low PCA score, the husband has a high REV score, and the wife has a low REV score, this means that the husband prefers an equalitarian relationship, and the wife one that is traditional. Since they disagree in this area it is something that needs to be worked through in counseling.

· If a couple has a low PCA score, the husband has a low REV score, and the wife has a high REV score, this means the husband prefers a traditional relationship, and the wife one that is equalitarian. This is also a potential conflict area and should be discussed in counseling.

News Update:  

The June 2004 issue of the Newsletter, the Prepare Diary, will be available on this web site 
shortly (in the week beginning June 21st). 

Skills development training seminars are listed at: Skills Development Opportunities 

The cost of processing has not been increased and remains at $38.50 (including GST).