Divorce Trends America has the highest divorce rates

Divorce

Trends • America has the highest divorce rates in the world going back to 1889 (Coontz, 2006) • At the same time love-marriages became the dominant model (Coontz, 2006) • Divorce rates have stabilized (Martin, 2006) • Most divorces occur early in marriages – 5 years 10% – 15 years 43% – Median 8 years; mean 6. 3

Why Are We Seeing This Trend Economic Factors • Class (edu & family income matter) • Wives in the labor force – Independence effect – Income effect (in low-income families--acts as stabilizer) – The effect of women’s employment on marriage depends on gender ideology High Expectations of Marriage • Political/Economical Contract v. Free-choice – Practical expectations are associated with higher satisfaction

Why Are We Seeing This Trend The Changed Nature of Marriage • Love-Marriage (a worldwide change) • Mortality rates, i. e. , a much longer time together – Self-Fulfilling Prophecy – Shift from Chitchat to Marital Conversation Decreased Social, Legal & Moral Barriers • No-Fault Divorce Laws • Rise in individualistic values • Growing acceptance

Common Marital Complaints (Kitson) Both Sexes 1. Lack of Communication (F, 32% M, 27%) Men 2. Joint Conflict over Roles 21 % 3. Not Sure 18 % (2 % of women) Women Alcohol, untrustworthy and immature, out with the boys

Divorce American Style (Hetherington) Good Marriages & Bad Marriages 1. Pursuer-Distancer 2. Disengaged Marriages 3. Operatic Marriages 4. Cohesive-individuated Marriages 5. Traditional Marriages

Divorce American Style (Hetherington) 1. 70% of Women and Men moved on to build reasonably or exceptionally fulfilling lives 2. 20% of Women emerged enhanced, exhibiting competencies they never would had: gone back to school, economic stability, etc. 3. #1 predictor of subsequent adjustment was new supporting intimate relationship 4. 75 to 60 % Women remarried 5. Child Development (75 to 80% good to very well)

“Stations” of Divorce (Bohannan) 1. Emotional Divorce * rather than reinforce each other, partners undermine each other’s self esteem 2. Legal Divorce * Divorce, like death, requires a period of grieving, but legal divorce is rational * * The Lawyers! Divorce Mediation

Aspects of Divorce 3. Community Divorce * Disruption in social networks 4. Economic Divorce * income-to-needs ratio * motherhood penalty 5. Psychic Divorce * Three Stages 1. 2. 3. Denial Anger & Depression Ex-Spouses take responsibility

Negative Effects on Children 1. Life Stress Perspective (accumulation of negative stressors) 2. Parental Loss Perspective (absence of parent = problems regarding socialization) 3. Parental Adjustment Perspective (custodial parent’s psychological adjustment) 4. Economic Hardship Perspective (varies among social classes) • Interparental Conflict Perspective (conflict between parents before, during & after)

His and Her Divorce • Women – Adherence to traditional gender roles is associated with feelings of lost identity – Labor market issues • Men – Retaining economic obligations without the joy of parenting – Adherence to traditional gender roles is associated with inability to share grief