Parforhold og medier i en refleksiv modernitet - en undersøgelse af mænds refleksioner over samliv og medier

Abstract

This thesis, Intimate Relationships and Media in a Reflexive Modernity ("Parforhold og medier i en refleksiv modernitet - En undersøgelse af mænds refleksioner over samliv og medier"), investigates the present status of romantic relationships in an urban environment in Denmark. The research interests focus on the posttraditional intimate relationship, paying particular attention to examining the influences and effects of reflexive modernity and detraditionalization. Through interviews with nine men between 34 and 37 years of age about the everyday life of their relationship, we have investigated the social interactions of each relationship. A further point of interest is how the media influence the reflection process. As a combined Masters thesis it integrates the academic field of Communication Studies with that of Psychology.

The analysis is based on several interrelated theories that form an integral foundation for the research. The theoretical background for the psychological part of the thesis is mainly Social Psychology as presented by Bauman, Dencik, Giddens, Johansson, among others. Point of departure for the communicational part is theories on communication and discourse analysis as presented by Fairclough, Foucault, Luhmann, Phillips, Sepstrup, Schrøder and Winther Jørgensen.

On the basis of the empirical findings, the thesis concludes that the men have a high level of reflection, which is formed by a combination of social interactions and mediarelated information. A new type of family life is created, described as a team-family, in which the family members seek a balance between individuality and their common family project. The empirical studies suggest that the relationship forms a secure and stable foundation from where the two partners can pursue their individual, personal goals. In relation to this, the thesis concludes that through the stability which the family provides, the men experience freedom and happiness.

To understand the role of the media in the reflection process, the thesis introduces the term Scientia Matrimonii. This term implies that science produces and categorizes knowledge about intimate relationships, which successively finds its way to the individual´s self-perception through medialization. The empirical findings suggest that the informants are to some extent influenced by, and a part of, the overall medialization process in the reflexive modernity.