The main purpose of this book is to promote successful relationships by isolating the key factors that contribute to the success or failure of the marriage experience.
Dr. Samms selected ten key factors by ferreting out the main issues that affected his own marriages with his deceased wife, Pamela (forty-eight years), and his present wife, Petula, and by reviewing the findings of some prominent relationship professionals. These ten concepts are not exhaustive but form the basis of many of the issues in most marriages.
The word "paradigms" is used in the title to indicate that simple patterns or graphic illustrations were employed to assist readers in more easily understanding the key issues that determine the success or failure of a marital relationship.
Paradigms of Marriage is based on the view that we can isolate the reasons why marriages, after an exhilarating beginning, either drift toward pain, pressure, and problems or climb toward enjoyment, pleasure, and happiness. This book focuses on the tension between pit and paradise.
The main idea is that most people marry to be happy. When certain negative habits are developed and practiced, they lead the marriage down a negative path to a point called the "pit". On the contrary, when certain good habits are developed and practiced, the marriage soars toward pleasure, peace, and fulfilled expectations, or "paradise." Paradigms of Marriage reveals which issues lead relationships to the pit and which ones lead to paradise.
Each chapter starts with an introductory statement concerning the topic being presented. It progresses with Dr. Samms's reflections on his marriage experience regarding that issue. The final section of each chapter suggests solutions to resolving the issues and fostering marital success.
This book is the published form of the PowerPoint presentations used in the Marriage Motivational Series.
