Social and economic situation nowadays is changing rapidly, which leads to significant changes in characteristic features of a modern family. This is primarily transition from patriarchality of the traditional family pattern to equality and democratic values, masculinization and emancipation of women, tendency for feminization of men, new forms of family relations, etc. These transformations explain the interest for the research on different characteristics of a modern family. In this case, we shall dwell on the comparative aspect of marriage motivation for representatives of different generations, what is of interest for searching the ways to achieve stability of matrimony. A family functioning in an optimum way is a family which performs its functions responsibly and differentially, thus satisfying the need for growth and changes of the family as a whole, as well of each family member. Marriage motivation can act as a condition of success and harmony of family relations.
The sources of scientific legacy of domestic and foreign researchers in the family sphere go back to philosophy of Platon (dialogues “Nation”, “Laws”, “Feast”), Aristoteles (“Politics”), Plutarch (“Instruction for spouses”), I. Kant (“Metaphysics of morals”), G. Gegel (“Philosophy of religion”, “Philosophy of law”), V.V. Rosanov (“Family issue in Russia”). Later, the points of view of such authors as E. Bern, E. Fromm, K.G. Jung, A. Adler, I.S. Kon, A.S. Spivakovskaya, V.V. Boiko, A.A. Kronik, E.G. Eidemiller, V.V. Justitskis, G. Navaitis and of many others were included into the research field of family.
The research immediately devoted to readiness of young people for marriage was carried out by I.V. Dubrovina, L.F. Filyukova, N.N. Obozov, T.M. Trapeznikova, A.N. Volkova. However, lack of modern research on this problem can be observed.
I.V. Dorno points out that the changes that are going on not always positively affect the success of marriage, decrease value of a family, and the reasons for this lie in insufficient matureness of perception by young people of each other, future family, as well as in mismatch of views on marriage early in life and after a lapse of time [5].
In the authors’ opinion there is a number of variables affecting the perception of harmony in family relations, which sometimes basically do not depend on the subjects of these relations. Thus, according to the opinion of L.Ya. Gozman, depending on the situation the same characteristic of a person can be evaluated positively and negatively, and there are no absolutely “bad” or “good” characteristics. The criteria for choosing a spouse can be social-demographic features or verification of one’s own views and worldview. However, it is pointed out by N.I. Adzhigikhina, “… if we are convinced in our virtues, if we know that people treat us well, the similarity loses its essential meaning to us” [2].
An essential aspect of marriage motivation problem is investigation of the influence of the freedom of choice of the marriage partner on the emotional relations in the couple. Values, norms and ideas, on the basis of which an individual builds his or her behavior, can determine that contacts with this person are prestigious or not prestigious, desirable or undesirable. L.Ya. Gozman thinks that in order for the choice of the partner to be really free, not only it is necessary to have absence of pressure factors. There needs to be a sufficient number of contacts with potential partners. The society can either promote or hinder such contacts [3].
In this perspective, data of E.G. Eidemiller and V. Justitskis, obtained in a sample group of 326 people are of interest, and namely, that the most commonly occurring motives for marriage are escape from parents, sense of duty, a desire to escape from loneliness and following a tradition. The last places in this rating are taken by love, prestige, search for material wealth and sense of revenge [7]. E.V. Volchenkova distinguishes biological, socio-cultural, economic and psychological motives [1].
Exploring marriage motivation for representatives of different ages, A.G. Kharchev states that concordance of motive for marriage positively correlates with increase of spouses age. Therewith the greatest similarity is observed in cases when the husband is somewhat older than the wife, and the greatest difference – when the wife is older than the husband, or when the husband is much older than the wife [6].
Hypothesis. On the basis of review of theoretical research we have supposed that prevailing motives of marital relations for representatives of age group with average age 20 years are external motives (prestige value of relationships), avoiding loneliness as well as personal and pragmatic values. For representatives of the older age group whose average age is 53 years and average marital relationships experience is 28 years dominating marriage motives are spiritual values, similarity of worldview and life goals.
The sample group comprised representatives of two age groups:
1. Future newlyweds, whose average age is 20 years, education – high school diploma or undergraduate degree (group 1).
2. Married couples, whose average age is 53 years, average married life experience – 28 years, education – undergraduate degree or higher education (group 2).
Research methods. To accomplish the set goal we used the method “Role expectations and claims in marriage” (A.N. Volkova) and the method “Determination of marriage motivation” (S.I. Golod).
The analysis of the results of the method “Role expectations and claims in marriage” revealed that the most significant for the respondents from both groups are the statements which characterize positive aspects of a family.
The respondents from group 1 irrespective of gender distinguish as the most significant family value the possibility to satisfy the most important emotional and psychological needs: understanding, psychological support (young men – 90 %, girls – 96 %). The opinions of the respondents from group 2 divided: women think that the main family value is children (84 %), and men give the first place to the family as a place where a person can be own self (84 %).
For the respondents from group 1 these values take the second place: for newlywed men it is important to be in the family the person they want to be (86 %), for girls the aspect of having and raising children is important (82 %). Married couples with marriage experience over 28 years put on the second place the possibility and need to feel mutual support and understanding in the family (82 % – women and 76 % – men).
An interesting fact is that family life is defined as a special and monotonous work by 36 % of young men and 30 % of girls, whereas among experienced married couples there are more such answers (48 % – men and 54 % – women).
Future spouses as well as representatives of experienced families think that a family in some way brings along loss of individuality, and also representatives of the young generation are more convinced in this than spouses with many years of marriage experience. But for both generations women are more convinced in this than men (54 % – girls, 44 % – young men and 38 % – women, 34 % – men).
Representatives of both groups express misgivings concerning psychological comfort in the family. The family is considered as a possible vulnerable spot in the personal destiny by 66 % of girls and 40 % of married women. Among young men, 48 % or respondents do not exclude demonstration of lack of attention by the future wife, among men – 54 %.
Married women (64 %) more often than girls (50 %) think that a family is a barrier for self-realization of a person, his or her career. Young men and men (38 % and 30 % respectively) view this somewhat more optimistic. Probably this deviation can be explained by the fact that a woman not always can make a choice in favor of a career and personal success taking upon herself the burden of family work and childcare.
It stands out that a reasonably big part of respondents think that a family can play a significant role in achieving certain goals (66 % of girls and 48 % of young men, 54 % of married men and 40 % of married women). In such a case the number of men who agree with this statement increases with increase of marriage period, and married women are less convinced in this than girls.
In both groups it is essential to consider family relations as a solution to the problem of loneliness. 56 % of girls and 72 % of married women think so. 34 % of young men and 58 % of men agree with them.
Investigation of marriage motivation showed differences between respondents from these groups.
The most significant motive for young men is intimate-personal (60 %). The less significant is moral-psychological (10 %). Parental and economic-household motives are significant for 20 % and 30 % of young men respectively. Girls explain the need for a family first of all by birth and upbringing of children, self-realization as a mother (60 %). Moral-psychological motive is characteristic for 40 % of girls-respondents, intimate-personal – for 20 %. The less significant for them during creating a family is economic-household motive (10 %).
For married couples with experience approximation of positions concerning marriage motives is observed. As opposed to young men from group 1 where the first place is taken by intimate-personal motive, married men consider financial conditions the most important for family life and put economic-household motive on the first place (50 %). Parental motive is significant for 30 % of respondents, moral-psychological for 20 %. It is interesting that intimate-personal motive became of less significance for men (10 %).
For women the priority is in warm family relations, presence of psychologically comfortable atmosphere, that’s why of utmost significance to them is moral-psychological marriage motive (50 %). Probably this is due to the fact that unlike girls whose preference lies with parental motive, women have already realized themselves in the role of a mother. Just like for men, the last place for women is taken by intimate-personal motive, it was pointed out only by 10 % of women. The share of other motives is distributed in the following way: parental – 40 %, economic-household – 30 %. In other words, both men and women unanimously give the second place to the parental motive.
Thus, data analysis has shown that girls as well as women who are already married don’t place much emphasis on economic-household and intimate-personal marriage motives, but consider moral-psychological and parental motives more important. Young men and men unanimously mark the importance of economic-household motive, but differ in opinions concerning significance of intimate-personal motive, which is significant for young men but practically of no significance to men. It is obvious than girls and young men demonstrate mismatch of judgements in evaluation of significant motives, whereas men and women show more unanimity expressing their opinion on significance of parental and intimate-personal motives.
Conclusions
1. Young respondents and respondents with family life experience have positive focus on marriage, but girls and women tend to consider a family to be a barrier for personal success, career, whereas practically all young men and the majority of men disagree with this.
2. Creation of a family is regarded as a solution to the problem of loneliness, more essential for the women under test, than for men.
3. The most significant expectations from marriage for young men are realizing intimate-sexual value and social activity sphere, for girls the value of visual appeal is more significant. For young men less significant is the value of personal identification, for girls – value of intimate-sexual sphere.
4. For married couples with family life experience of the greatest value is personal identification sphere, for men of the least value is visual attractiveness, for women – intimate-sexual sphere.
5. The hypothesis has been partially confirmed. The most significant marriage motive for girls is parental motive, for young men – intimate-personal motive. The most significant marriage motive for men is economic-household motive, for women – moral-psychological motive. It has been proved experimentally that greater match of marriage motivation and ideas on family values and expectations from marriage is observed for married couples with experience.