1. Adult Years

2. Functions of marriage for society Inheritance rights Structured economic partnership Regulating sexual behavior Childrearing

3. Cohabitation When cohabitating couples marry, they have a greater risk of divorce than those couples who did not cohabitate. Many believe long term commitment not necessary for living arrangement Not a substitute for marriage

4. Marital satisfaction Satisfied couples have  Closeness  Individual independence  The Prophet Couples who have a good marriage believe the marriage enhances themselves as individuals.

5. Gottman’s research predicting marital dissatisfaction Facial expressions of disgust or fear Defensiveness Expressions of contempt

6. Gottman’s best predictor of marital satisfaction Moments of support, kindness, passion & mutual pleasure far outweigh moments of disgust, criticism, defensiveness and anger

7. Sexual satisfaction within marriage Frequency Mutuality in initiating sex Frequency for orgasm among women Compared with Kinsey’s research  Men and women now have a wider repertoire of sexual behavior

8. Extramarital sex (nonconsensual) Reasons for:  Wanting to expand emotionally or sexually  Unavailability of sex within the marriage  Way to begin ending a marriage Other factors  Symptom of a disintegrating marriage  May cause marital breakups  Other serious consequences for both participant and spouse

9. Divorce Increasing due to  Reduction in social stigma attached to divorce  Increased economic independence of women  Liberalization of divorce laws Emotional impact  Similar to a death of a spouse

10. Most frequently cited reason for divorce For men = Communication difficulties For women = communication difficulties

11. High divorce rates with second marriages related to Less willingness to stick around when things get rough

12. Factors influencing sexual activity in later years Need for affection and sexual intimacy continues into older years Physical health  Medications  In elderly may effect sexual desire and function Regularity of sexual expression Sexual activity levels in early adulthood

13. Aging and hormone Replacement therapy