Question

Benjamin is a social psychologist who studies marriage. He believes that marital satisfaction has two components: the ability to trust one's partner and a belief that one can be a good spouse. This is known as:

a. a hypothesis.
b. data.
c. research.
d. a theory.

Answer 1

Benjamin's belief about marital satisfaction is a hypothesis, which is a testable educated guess in social science research that outlines the relationship between variables such as trust and self-perception in marriage.

Step-by-step explanation:

Benjamin, a social psychologist studying marriage, posits that marital satisfaction is comprised of the ability to trust one's partner and a belief in oneself as a good spouse. This construct is best categorized as a hypothesis. A hypothesis in social sciences, like psychology, is a testable educated guess about the relationship between two or more variables. In this context, it is an assumption about the components that constitute marital satisfaction and predicts how these elements influence the overall marital happiness.

The concept of a hypothesis is foundational in research, as it allows scientists to create a structured approach to test their understanding of social phenomena. In studying marriage, sociologists and psychologists often explore multiple facets of relationships, such as the impact of household labor on marital satisfaction or the symbolic meanings attached to family structures, as highlighted by symbolic interactionism.