A typology of marital interaction for sexually dysfunctional couples.

An empirical typology of marital interactions for couples seeking sexual dysfunction therapy was developed based upon their self-evaluations and interpersonal perceptions on the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis (T-JTA). T-JTA scores of 246 couples on the psychological traits of Expressive-Responsive/Inhibited and Hostility/Tolerance were used to separate four groups of couples defining three distinct types of marital interactions. Groups 1 and 2 represented the Conflict-Centered relationship in which one spouse, wives and husbands respectively, scored high on the trait Hostility. Group 3, the Passive-Constrained relationship was characterized by husbands who scored low on the trait Expressive-Responsive (Inhibited) and Group 4, the Congenial-Affectionate relationship was based upon the profiles of the remaining couples in this sample. Self-perceptions of spouses are described and the transactional dynamics of the couple types discussed in terms of their therapeutic implications.