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Programs broadcast by the three major television networks that portrayed contemporary American families were analyzed for one week to discern the frequency of specified televised marital and parental role behaviors. The purpose of this content analysis was to determine what behaviors the television spouses displayed toward each other and toward their children. Televised marital and parental role behaviors are usually conflict free emphasizing affectionate and altruistic concerns for one's spouse and children. According to the cultural norms theory, television can influence viewers' behavior patterns by structuring its "messages" in certain repetitive ways. These marital and parental role behaviors on television can serve as imitative models for the viewer, enabling him to learn appropriate behavior for future use. (Author)

This paper addresses two questions of widespread concern in literature on the family: (1) Is a score from one spouse adequate to measure marital adjustment? If not, how should the scores of the couple be treated to measure this concept? and (2) What is the effect of social desirability on responses to marital adjustment measures? Data from 44 paired couples (n 88) selected by a random process from a rural village some 12 miles from a university were collected. The Locke-Wallace short-form marital adjustment test, the Bienvenu communication scale, and the Crowne-Marlow Social Desirability scale were utilized. "Couple" scores were ascertained by three different assumption methods: (1) the partner whose "costs" overbalanced "profits" in the marital relationship would withdraw first from the marriage; (2) the partner whose "profits" exceeded "costs" would strive harder to maintain the marital relationship, and (3) the couple's marital adjustment score would be reflected best by an average. Results suggest that, should future research replicate these findings, scientists in family research would not need to be too concerned as to which indicator of marital adjustment to use nor about social desirability as a contaminating variable. (Author/CKJ)