Department of Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (39 Views)
Aim: Previous research has primarily examined the experience of “we-ness” in marital relationships through linguistic indicators or cognitive constructs, paying less attention to how this experience emerges and evolves in couples’ everyday lives. The present study aimed to explore the lived experience of “we-ness” and to understand how it develops, is maintained, changes, and becomes consolidated within marital relationships. Methods: This study employed an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. Participants consisted of eight couples in relatively intimate and stable marital relationships who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings: The findings indicated that we-ness in marital relationships is not a fixed state but rather a dynamic and evolving process. Five major themes emerged from the analysis: the formation of we-ness, relationship regulation based on we-ness, relational awareness of the couple’s shared identity, redefining we-ness during crises and challenging relational situations, and the consolidation of we-ness. The findings suggest that couples gradually develop a shared identity, negotiate a balance between individuality and togetherness, become more aware of relational patterns, redefine their relationship in the face of crises, and ultimately achieve a more stable experience of we-ness. Conclusion: The results suggest that we-ness can be understood as an ongoing process involving the formation, regulation, reflection, reconstruction, and consolidation of a shared relational identity. Accordingly, attention to the quality of couples’ experience of we-ness may help therapists move beyond a sole focus on conflict resolution and instead strengthen shared identity, enhance relational awareness, and support the reconstruction of couple bonds during difficult periods of life. By introducing the concept of processual we-ness, the present study provides a framework for understanding the dynamic nature of shared identity in marital relationships.
Keywords: Processual we‑ness, Lived experience, Interpretative phenomenology, Shared horizon, We‑consciousness, Couple therapy, Marital relationship
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