Abstract
THE EXAMINATION OF EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION AND RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION IN THE EXAMPLE OF THE MOVIE MARRIAGE STORY
The expression of emotions in romantic relationships plays a decisive role in determining relationship quality and relationship satisfaction. The suppression, delay, or destructive expression of emotions may lead to a decrease in relationship satisfaction and communication breakdowns between partners. This study examines the relationship between emotional expression and relationship satisfaction through the film Marriage Story (2019), directed by Noah Baumbach.
The study was conducted using a qualitative research design based on document analysis. Five critical scenes representing different stages of the relationship were selected from the film, and the characters’ emotional expression behaviors and levels of relationship satisfaction were analyzed within a theoretical framework.
The findings indicate that positive and open emotional expression is predominant during periods of high relationship satisfaction, whereas relationship satisfaction decreases significantly in processes where emotions are suppressed or not expressed. Additionally, it was observed that emotions suppressed over long periods may be expressed in an uncontrolled and destructive manner, leading to irreversible damage to the relationship. In contrast, the emotional expression observed in the final scene suggests that even after the romantic relationship has ended, a form of relationship satisfaction can be re-established at a human and interpersonal level.
This study makes visible the relationship between emotional expression and relationship satisfaction through a cinematic example and demonstrates that film analysis can serve as a functional tool for concretizing psychological concepts.
Keywords
Emotional Expression, Relationship Satisfaction, Film Analysis
