Abstract
D.Phil. (Educational Psychology)
There is substantial evidence that potential marital partners have difficulty with their
decision-making for a marital partner. As a result these potential marital partners often
base their decisions of a marital partner on limited awareness. Little or no research
has been done on the decision-making process of a marital partner, and that is why
the question can be asked: "How did you make the choice for a marital partner?" The
purpose of this study is to develop a model as framework of reference for the
facilitation of awareness in the decision-making process for a marital partner as
integral part of mental health.
A theory generative, qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research
design was used to conduct this study. The fieldwork was done by having semistructured
phenomenological interviews with marital partners. The results obtained
were analysed and categorised. The results obtained from the analysed data reflect
the fact that potential marital partners make the choice of a marital partner based on
limited awareness.
The main concept of facilitation of awareness in the decision-making of a marital
partner was identified and defined as creating a safe space wherein people can be
assisted in becoming conscious about their inner and outer world. A model was
developed as framework of reference to facilitate awareness in the decision-making
process of a marital partner as integral part of mental health.