INTERPERSONAL RITUALS IN MARRIAGE AND ADULT FRIENDSHIP

The purpose of this study was to examine inductively types of interper sonal rituals in marriages and adult friendship and assess ritual enac tment among friendship types (males' and females' same-sex, cross-sex, and couple friendships). Twenty married couples were interviewed and 79 couples completed open-ended questionnaires about both their marria ge and friendship rituals. From their reports, a typology of seven mar riage ritual types (two with subcategories including seven total subty pes) and a typology of six friendship ritual types (two with subcatego ries including seven total subtypes) were developed. The typology of m arriage rituals with subtypes were in parentheses include: Couple- Tim e Rituals (Enjoyable Activities, Togetherness Rituals, Escape Episodes ), Idiosyncratic/Symbolic Rituals (Favorites, Private Codes, Play Ritu als, and Celebration Rituals), Daily Routines and Tasks, Intimacy Expr essions, Communication Rituals, Patterns/Habits/Mannerisms, and Spirit ual Rituals. The typology of friendship rituals with subtypes in paren theses include: Social/Fellowship Rituals (Enjoyable Activities, Getti ng Together Rituals, Established Events, Escape Episodes), Idiosyncrat ic/Symbolic Rituals (Celebration Rituals, Play Rituals, Favorites), Co mmunication Rituals, Share/Support/Vent Rituals, Tasks/Favors, and Pat terns/Habits/Mannerisms. Analyses further suggest that certain types o f ritual enactment occur more frequently in certain types of friendshi p.