Social Psychology Commons^™

Rituals In Unmarried Couple Relationships: An Exploratory Study, Kelly Campbell, Luciana Silva, David W. Wright

Psychology Faculty Publications

This study provides an understanding of rituals enacted in unmarried couple relationships. One hundred and twenty-nine individuals involved in unmarried relationships reported on their rituals in an online, open-ended questionnaire. A typology of 16 ritual types was developed, 12 of which have been shown to be common in marital relationships. Four new ritual categories, unique to unmarried relationships, emerged from the data: Gift-giving, helping each other/being supportive, future planning/daydreaming about the future, and family involvement. Implications for future research on couple rituals conclude the study.