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)
5. 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