Learning Journeys
Analytic Approach
To make sense of my research data, I chose to focus on two couples who are on opposite ends of the spectrum of learning at boot camp. Styles P and Adjua have the most to lose, the most commitment, and they actually display learning whereas Bianca and Chozus have the least to lose, the least commitment to one another, and learn little to nothing. My plan was to break down what they learn, when, and with what tools they were using or not using that impacted their learning. In the end, I was only able to complete this work for Styles P and Adjua.
Referencing my notes and the personal thoughts I jotted down during my observations, I was able to determine their key moments of boot camp. I then rewatched the segments of each episode that those key moments were in to refresh my memory on everything that occurred and fact check what I wrote in my notes. After that, I was able to formulate written analyses on their learning journey segmented by the days on which their key moments occurred.
Although some of their moments are on YouTube and I embedded them into the site, I would have liked to add videos for each step in their journey. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to edit them like I wanted to overcome the obstacle of copyright since Amazon Prime wouldn’t let me screen record sound and audio. Hopefully my descriptions of their key moments provided a good enough idea of their learning journeys despite not having all of the videos uploaded.
Styles P & Adjua
24 Years Together
Styles P & Adjua are the couple of Marriage Boot Camp with the most to lose and the most invested in their relationships. Styles even called them "the forever couple in the house." Married for 13 years and together for 24, there is no doubt that this is a couple who has made it through a few storms but have still chosen that each other is worth the fight. They came into the show knowing that their relationship lacks romance, ultimately crowning themselves “Unlit.” But by the end of their learning experience, these two recommit to one another and unlock the key to a healthier and future together that includes sex and intimacy: communication. It took them some time and a huge blow up that almost ended it all, but boot camp got them to present each other with a ring on day ten and continue the work at home. They are a couple that represents that learning that actually happens at boot camp.
Bianca & Chozus
1 Year Together
Bianca & Chozus are the youngest couple in the house with the second to shortest amount of time together and the least learned. As an on-again off-again one year relationship, they are immature and not as invested in each other as the other couples are. Chozus even has another girlfriend. Their main issue is fighting and domestic violence and yet those behaviors aren’t just discussed or improved; the two end up getting violent with one another on day ten. Having gone through the whole learning experience but still choosing to repeat the same behavior they came in with, the two are then kicked out. Afterwards, it is then revealed that Bianca’s pregnant, they’re no longer together, and Chozus wants a paternity test. But quite frankly, their learning potential as a couple was doomed from the beginning.