SEMANTIC DIMENSIONS IN CHRONIC MARITAL CO NFLICT - A COMPUTER-BASED CONTENT-ANALYSIS

The speech behavior of six couples with chronic, neurotic marital conf licts in short term couple therapy are investigated, using linguistic, computer-based content analysis. The analysis, based on verbal interc hange, clarifies perceptions and misperceptions between male and femal e partners, and the therapeutic progress between patients and therapis ts. As a result of this analysis, basic semantic dimensions such as so cial attractiveness, dominance, control, depression and emotional open ess. Using both a systemic and psychoanalytical therapeutic approach, linguistic analysis was found to reflect accurately the problematic re lationship of the couple. The impact of these empirical measurements o n psychotherapy is discussed.