Wifely submission: Psychological/spiritual growth perspectives.

Wifely submission is reviewed from a perspective of psychological and spiritual health with regard to sociocultural arguments, pathological personal motives, and growth motives for submission. Four sociocultural arguments for wifely submission are discussed: social order, sociobiological opinions, maintenance of sexual differences, and scriptural authority. Pathological personal motives for submission assessed are security seeking, masochistic submission, neurotic love seeking, and manipulation. Growth bases considered are service to the partner, marital mutuality, overcoming personal faults, and vowed commitment to the spiritual life. Implications for marriage and premarital counseling are drawn.