1. Divorce

2. 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

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

4. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11. His and Her Divorce Women Men
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