The Importance of Marriage
Running head: MARRIAGE AS AN INSTITUTION
The Importance of Marriage
Ana Vertz
PS301
Mrs. Kathy Erickson
August 30, 2009 The Importance of Marriage
From Colonial times to present marriage has been an integral part of American culture. The importance is has been evident in that it is one of the few institutions that started with the country and is still very popular. What makes marriage an important institution? This paper will discuss the perceptions of the importance of marriage for men and women, children’s influence in the marriage relationship, the links between psychological distress and martial conflict, attitude towards same sex marriages and the effects of cohabitation and marriage commitment.
The first section of this paper examines the importance of marriage from male and female perspectives. Research from the National Survey of Families and Households suggested the following trends: Men and women both feel that marriage is more important to men; women view marriage as optional for both men and women for having a satisfying life; women are more likely to think that men cannot have a satisfying life without marriage; youthful and more educated individuals are less likely to put emphasis on marriage; religious individuals and those married who have children predominantly more inclined to think that men nor women can have fulfilling lives without the institution of marriage.
Research from the National Survey listed above also suggests that men get a greater benefit from marriage than do women as stated below from a study conducted on whether or not men need a spouse and the importance of marriage. In the article entitled “Do Men “Need” a Spouse more than Women?: Perceptions of The Importance of Marriage for Men and Women” the authors state:
“As Nock (1998:3) states, “Men reap greater gains than women for virtually every outcome affected by marriage.” Research results showing the greater benefit of marriage for men than for women on many dimensions,
The Importance of Marriage
Ana Vertz
PS301
Mrs. Kathy Erickson
August 30, 2009 The Importance of Marriage
From Colonial times to present marriage has been an integral part of American culture. The importance is has been evident in that it is one of the few institutions that started with the country and is still very popular. What makes marriage an important institution? This paper will discuss the perceptions of the importance of marriage for men and women, children’s influence in the marriage relationship, the links between psychological distress and martial conflict, attitude towards same sex marriages and the effects of cohabitation and marriage commitment.
The first section of this paper examines the importance of marriage from male and female perspectives. Research from the National Survey of Families and Households suggested the following trends: Men and women both feel that marriage is more important to men; women view marriage as optional for both men and women for having a satisfying life; women are more likely to think that men cannot have a satisfying life without marriage; youthful and more educated individuals are less likely to put emphasis on marriage; religious individuals and those married who have children predominantly more inclined to think that men nor women can have fulfilling lives without the institution of marriage.
Research from the National Survey listed above also suggests that men get a greater benefit from marriage than do women as stated below from a study conducted on whether or not men need a spouse and the importance of marriage. In the article entitled “Do Men “Need” a Spouse more than Women?: Perceptions of The Importance of Marriage for Men and Women” the authors state:
“As Nock (1998:3) states, “Men reap greater gains than women for virtually every outcome affected by marriage.” Research results showing the greater benefit of marriage for men than for women on many dimensions,
References: Avery, A., Chase, J., & Johansson, L. (2007). America 's changing attitudes towards homosexuality, civil unions, and same-gender marriage: 1977-2004. Social Work, 52(1), 71-79. Fowers, B., Lyons, E., Montel, K., & Shaked, N. (2001, March). Positive illusions about marriage among married and single individuals. Journal of Family Psychology, 15(1), 95-109. Retrieved September 01, 2009, doi:10.1037/0893-3200.15.1.95 Kaufman, G., & Goldscheider, F. (2007). Do men 'need ' a spouse more than women?: Perceptions of the importance of marriage for men and women. Sociological Quarterly, 48(1), 29-46. Papp, L. M., Goeke-Morey, M. C., & Cummings, M. E. (2007). Linkages between spouses ' psychological distress and marital conflict in the home. Journal of Family Psychology, 21(3), 533-537. Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., & Markman, H. J. (2006). Pre-engagement Cohabitation and Gender Asymmetry in Marital Commitment. Journal of Family Psychology, 20(4), 553-560. Schermerhorn, A. C., Cummings, M. E., & DeCarlo, C. A. (2007). Children 's influence in the marital relationship. Journal of Family Psychology, 21(2), 259-269. Stolz, L. (1941, October). Review of Family BehaviorModern Marriage, and Modern Marriage. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 36(4), 608-610. Retrieved September 01, 2009, doi:10.1037/h0052788 Neubeck, G. (1959, Sum). Review of Why Marriages Go Wrong. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 6(2), 168-169. Retrieved September 01, 2009, doi:10.1037/h0039159