Motywacyjna funkcja procesu uświęcania w formowaniu relacji małżeńskich

Abstract

The article contributes to recent analyses presenting the concept of sanctification and investigating its role in marital relations. The sanctification process can be understood as a psychological process through which various aspects of life are perceived by people as having spiritual character and significance. It entails cognitive changes that happen when a certain object acquires a religious status. In the case of marriage, the sanctification process consists in spouses perceiving their union as sacred and affected by God’s invisible power. Married couples may experience numerous psychological benefits by accepting a sacred character of their union and by believing that their marital bonds hold religious meaning and significance. The sanctification process in marital relations derives its justification from well-established observations that religion can be a powerful and influential force in increasing social cohesion and integrating people’s behaviour. Sanctification can be a powerful source of motivation in developing and changing interactions between spouses who having recognised their relationships as intersecting with spiritual forces are likely to believe these bonds satisfy their psychological needs and functions. The key findings evidently prove that sanctification may offer significant benefits for marriage by: (1) increasing each partner’s happiness and well-being, which in turn strengthens their marital bonds and (2) preventing potential disagreements between partners and helping them resolve marital conflicts. Then, the motivational function of sanctification can be a vital source of marital cohesion on intra- and interpersonal levels.