Naoki Miyakawa and Dr. Thomas B. Holman, Psychology
The purpose of my research was to (1) translate the RELATE (acronym for RELATionship Evaluation) into Japanese thus developing a comprehensive survey instrument for assessing marital patterns in Japan, (2) pilot test the instrument with a sample of Japanese couples and (3) analyze the data collected with appropriate statistical procedures for the purpose of revising the instrument and beginning to understand the similarities and differences between the courtship and marital attitudes and expectations of Japanese and American young adults. The results I obtained while in Japan this summer were compared to the results obtained through the American research (Larson & Holman, 1994).
Interesting comparisons were made especially in the area of personal values. The American respondents were much more inclined to get a divorce (see Values graph) if they “had an unhappy marriage.” In the area of having sex the Japanese couples were less likely to act if he/she or the spouse didn’t agree on having intercourse at the moment. When asked are any secrets “worth keeping from your spouse”? the Americans agreed considerably more than the Japanese that no secrets were worth keeping from their spouse. The American couples placed personal significance on values such as having warm relations with others and self-fulfillment (see pie charts). Not surprisingly, the Japanese participants noted that having a sense of belonging and being well-respected was of important value; thus an observation may be made that Americans are more inclined to take action in their associations with people, whereas the Japanese are more inclined to make internal improvements on their character.
It was equally interesting to note the results on couple interaction (see Couple Interaction graph). American couples found their partner’s physically attractive remarkably more than the Japanese couples viewed their partners. The American couples also showed love to their partners more than the Japanese couples. It is interesting to note that the Americans, despite the higher satisfaction in their partner, were more inclined to get a divorce when the relationship turned unsatisfactory. As a result of this research I was able to produce a Japanese pilot version of the RELATE and view some of the differences and similarities of the courtship, marital attitudes and expectations of the Japanese and American couples. I hope the results from this research will be a benefit to those who further investigate the marital cultures of the world.