Cloud and Townsend Theory Critique
Cloud & Townsend Theory Critique
Jeremy Andrews
Liberty University, February 17, 2014
Summary In the book Boundaries In Marriage: Understanding the Choices that Make or Break Loving Relationships, authors Henry Cloud and John Townsend (1999) help the readers develop an understanding of healthy boundaries in the marital relationship. The book begins with an introduction and what it calls a refresher of a previous book published by the authors on boundaries. The book describes boundaries in marriage as a type of property line or the “beginning and end of something.” (Cloud &Townsend. 1999, p.17) There are several ideas that are discussed in the text in order to help us determine and set boundaries in marriage. The first of these is ownership. Ownership is described as the individual owning his or her own feelings, attitudes or behaviors. With that said boundaries or property lines within the marriage in regards to feelings, attitudes and behaviors will help clearly identify problems. Another area that boundaries helps is responsibility. Boundaries helps individuals involved know who is responsible for what. Each individual becomes responsible for his or her own feelings, attitudes and behaviors in the relationship. The authors believe that if each party in the relationship is mutually responsible, change is possible. Another area that boundaries helps is our realization of freedom. According to the text, partners in marriage with boundaries are able to determine their freedom and areas they are not free. Finally the last aspect described is that of protection when describing boundaries. Cloud and Townsend (1999) encourage the readers to protect themselves from evil and allow good into the relationship. One of the main points made throughout the book is that of self control in the process of boundaries. Primarily boundaries do not consist of trying to control the other person in the marriage,
Jeremy Andrews
Liberty University, February 17, 2014
Summary In the book Boundaries In Marriage: Understanding the Choices that Make or Break Loving Relationships, authors Henry Cloud and John Townsend (1999) help the readers develop an understanding of healthy boundaries in the marital relationship. The book begins with an introduction and what it calls a refresher of a previous book published by the authors on boundaries. The book describes boundaries in marriage as a type of property line or the “beginning and end of something.” (Cloud &Townsend. 1999, p.17) There are several ideas that are discussed in the text in order to help us determine and set boundaries in marriage. The first of these is ownership. Ownership is described as the individual owning his or her own feelings, attitudes or behaviors. With that said boundaries or property lines within the marriage in regards to feelings, attitudes and behaviors will help clearly identify problems. Another area that boundaries helps is responsibility. Boundaries helps individuals involved know who is responsible for what. Each individual becomes responsible for his or her own feelings, attitudes and behaviors in the relationship. The authors believe that if each party in the relationship is mutually responsible, change is possible. Another area that boundaries helps is our realization of freedom. According to the text, partners in marriage with boundaries are able to determine their freedom and areas they are not free. Finally the last aspect described is that of protection when describing boundaries. Cloud and Townsend (1999) encourage the readers to protect themselves from evil and allow good into the relationship. One of the main points made throughout the book is that of self control in the process of boundaries. Primarily boundaries do not consist of trying to control the other person in the marriage,
Citations: and reference listings follow APA guidelines. -1 Title missing from page 2 Total 100 Points Total Points Earned Final Comments 93 Good work