Kirsten Jackson
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Divorce is defined as “the formal dissolution of marriage” (Collins, 1978, p. 1). Nearly half of marriages end in divorce. There could be various reasons as to why a relationship diminishes. These reasons could include premarital cohabitation or in other words living together before marriage, marrying at a young age, and finally the presence of children. All three of these reasons are said to be the most significant of circumstances that lead to the end of relationships. To better understand the reasons of divorce, the text discusses 5 different types of marriages. Conflict habituated marriages, devitalized marriages, passive congenial marriages, vital marriages, and total marriages. These 5 types of marriages show the different outlooks of families on a spectrum of most likely to divorce and most likely to stay married. Divorce does not just affect the man and woman that are in the midst of separating, this subject has many factors that can be affected such as the common factor; children.
In different cultures living with your significant other before being married is highly looked down upon, however in American society there are a higher number of young adults moving in with each other before even becoming engaged, however while some people go into their new living situation with the mindset of preparing for marriage, this actually can be the demise of it. Most couples who chose to live together before marriage differ from those who don’t, they are younger therefore can have a nontraditional view of marriage and don’t promote the skill set to go about making a relationship last. In the text it states “they are younger, less likely to adapt to traditional marital expectations, and more approving of divorce as an answer to marital problems.” (Baca Zinn, Eitzen,Wells, 2011, p. 377). Another source states “The problem is that the couples are settling down
References: Block, K., Spiegel, S., (n.d.) The Impact of Parental ivorce on Emerging Adults’ Self-Esteem. Retrieved April 10, 2014 from http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/opus/issues/2013/spring/blockspiegel Collins, G Fraley, C.R., Heffernan, M.E. (August 2013). Attachment and Parental Divorce. Sage Journals. Retrieved April 10, 2014 from http://psp.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/06/28/0146167213491503.full Hillin, T Kemp,G., Smith, M., Segal, J., (n.d.) Children and Divorce. Retrieved April 10, 2014 from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/children_divorce.htm Munroe, M Pina, N., (2014). How Your Parents’ Divorce Affects Your Love Life? Experts Blog, para 1. Retrieved April 10, 2014 from http://www.yourtango.com/experts/nancy-pina/4-love-mindsets-resulting-your-parents-divorce Stewart, E.W University of Utah, (2014) (n.d). What are the possible consequences of divorce for children? Retrieved April 10, 2014 from http://www.divorce.usu.edu/files/uploads/Lesson5.pdf Williams, T., (2001) Family Structure and Behavior