Conceptual Framework
“Each day of boot camp is gonna build on a previous day, giving you the insights and tools you need to answer the ultimate question: should we leave here together or apart? If you’re not making progress, you’re destined to repeat your shortcomings like the same old track that’s playing over and over again until you can’t stand to hear it anymore.” - Dr. Ish
Marriage Boot Camp is often reflected upon as a show that gives couples the tools to save their relationships. However, the exercises serve as a series of tests that give insight on where each couple is in terms of healthiness more than they provide specific tools. The true gems of marriage boot camp are clarity, the real time calling out of behaviors, and advice for change that sometimes includes specific tools but often comes in the form of memorable experiences.
In terms of constructivism, learning happens in this space by encouraging conceptual change as these couples are shown the characteristics of a healthy relationship. Metacognition is also present because they are tasked with mentally assessing where their relationship falls on that spectrum of healthiness. They start this process by identifying the key issues of their relationship, having begun that work even before entering the house. Ultimately, the show creates a lifelong ZPD for each couple as it’s revealed what it truly takes for them to get to a healthier place where the issues they’ve identified are fixed. But with professional help for only ten days, there’s a smaller ZPD for the couples to identify specific points of contention in their relationships that fall under the larger problem areas they’ve identified. Throughout the ten days, they are given experiences at boot camp to help them tackle those more specific issues. And with all the facts laid out, they have to decide to stay together or not on day ten. In some cases, couples refocus their efforts on those more specific issues while in the house and display a glimpse of progress that exemplifies the learning that boot camp is capable of facilitating.
The everyday exercises represent both constructivism and situativity. They allow each couple to address the general major problem areas of relationships in order to address where they stand in each area. After each exercise, the feedback on their performance gives them clarity on if the topic that exercise represents is a problem area or not. The confessionals, interviews, one-on-one’s, and casual conversations with the group that occur throughout the show also allow them to reflect on the state of their relationships and where they were mentally as things unfolded, which is something they may not have been able to do in the heat of the moment. This externalization and articulation is needed for learning to happen.
In order to get to the place where each couple can determine the work they need to do and show learning, they need to participate and support others which is connected to situativity. In order to participate in the drills, there has to be some motivation for them to do so. That motivation starts with their commitment to their spouse. Then the cultural relevance of the exercises and the representation that they experience with Dr. Ish and Judge Toler encourage them to invest even more into the process. The support from other couples and individuals who want everyone’s relationship to be successful is also a motivating factor that keeps everyone on track. During drills, they encourage each other to keep going when it gets tough, console one another, validate their feelings, and even help others who fall short complete their tasks. When there’s conflict that distracts from this work, the group also steps in to provide varied perspectives that mediate and create conflict resolution.
For Styles P and Adjua, they were that support system for other people more than others stepped in to support them. They’re learning was mostly developed through the exercises, feedback, and the one-on-one that served as their aha moment. They were shown the connection between communication and intimacy and displayed knowledge growth by having conversations that were more transparent and more productive during the second half of their time at boot camp. They turned their relationship in a healthier direction in just ten days. As the cast members of Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop edition cheered throughout season 14, moments like theirs deserve a “boot camp working” chant.