Chapter 13:Uncoupling: Relationship Deterioration and Divorce

Today’s Divorce Trends• Crude Divorce Rate – the number of divorces

that occur per 1000 in a population• Useful for comparing trends over time• Rates increased with no-fault divorce

legislation in the 70s• Divorce rate began to decline in the 90s

Correlates of Divorce• The following are predictors of divorce–Couple’s age–Premarital pregnancy–Parental separation–Cohabitation before marriage–Religiosity of the couple– Socio-economic background of the couple

Figure 13.1: Actual Number of divorces and Crude Divorce Rates in the United States, 1965-2008

Age at Marriage

• Women who marry before they are 20 are most likely to divorce

• Men who are 5 years older or younger than their spouse are more likely to divorce

Teenagers• Factors that contribute to marital breakup– Emotional immaturity– Lack of marital preparation–Poor marital role performance– Lack of life coping skills– Less support from family and friends– Less social pressure to remain together

Premarital Pregnancy

• Correlation between premarital pregnancy or premarital childbearing and subsequent marital dissolution is high.

Parental Separation

• Inter-generational transmission of divorce–Children of divorce have less experience

with successful role models, they have less ability to cope with the difficulties of marriage

Premarital Cohabitation• Over 50% of cohabiting relationships end in

divorce within 5 years• Similar findings have occurred in other

countries such as Australia, Britain, Canada, Germany and Sweden

Cohabitation Factors Contributing to Divorce• Cohabitation requires a lesser commitment• Cohabiting men are less marriage-minded

than women• Cohabiters are typically less religious• Cohabiters have higher rates of relationship

violence• Cohabiters have higher levels of marital

expectations

Religiosity

• Higher divorce rates are found among those couples: –who do not have a religious preference–who do not hold strong religious beliefs

Figure 13.2: Who’s Been Divorced by Religion

Socioeconomic Background• Those at greater risks of divorce are– From lower socioeconomic background–Have lower levels of educational

attainment• Related risk factors– Lower socioeconomic backgrounds–More likely to marry at young ages

Sociocultural Causes of Divorce• Secularization trends–Marriage no longer a covenant or binding

union between husband and wife–Desacrilization contributes to temporary

nature of marriage• Liberalization of divorce laws–No fault divorce laws–Divorce socially and culturally accepted

Individualism Trends• Western cultures have become more

individualistic in recent years• Marriage emphasizes individuals’ needs

rather than mutual responsibilities• Emphasis on individual fulfillment increases

demands on the marriage• Mutual support is sacrificed for individual

fulfillment

Figure 13.3: Opinion of Divorce

Unrealistic Expectations• There is a lower level of tolerance• Marriages are expected to meet individual

expectations for– Fulfillment–Contentment–Happiness–Companionship

Cultural Forces• Ways in which cultural forces impact divorce

trends– Changes in popular opinion– Divorce laws are more consistent with

behaviors of those seeking divorce– Acceptance of divorce by religions– Recognition of impact of special groups– Helping professionals make process less

painful

Figure 13.4: Views About Divorce by Gender, Race, and Age

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Divorces

• Economic stability affects divorce• In 2-parent families where only father works–8% white–23% black–35% Hispanic

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Divorces

• African American couples are –Most likely to cohabit–Most likely to have children outside of

marriage–More likely to have parents who are

divorced

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Divorces• Hispanic couples are– Educationally and economically

disadvantaged–Have high levels of marital satisfaction and

marital quality– Focused on familialism–Predominantly Catholic

Process of Relationship Decline1. Dyadic breakdown–Many causes of marital dissatisfaction– Financial difficulties– Sex and sexuality difficulties–Alcohol or other substance abuse–Conflict– Individual needs not being met

Process of Relationship Decline2. Intrapsychic Phase

- Focus on aspects of relationship that are not satisfactory

- Conflict may escalate- Attitudes become negative, pessimistic or

distrustful

Process of Relationship Decline3. Dyadic phase– Couples discuss their dissatisfaction with

marriage– Attempt to find resolution– Discuss intent to end relationship

• Some may become emotionally divorced

Process of Relationship Decline4. Social phase–Disclose news of impending divorce to

friends and family–Public announcement

• Family metacognition- spouses share problems in marriage with others– Time of insecurity and imbalance in family–Account making: what led to deterioration

of marriage

Process of Relationship Decline

• Grave dressing– Couple must come to terms with

breakdown/break-up of marriage– Involves a loss of intimacy in the

relationship–Breakdown in the interaction patterns

Transition to Divorce• Emotional Divorce• First three transitions–Decision–Announcement– Separation

SeparationsDisruptions in family relationships• No clear cut rules• Disorderly separation – sudden–Abandonment–Creates a crisis state for those left behind

• Orderly separation – planned– Still painful

The Formal Divorce• Family law establishes policies and regulations to

ensure that married or divorced couples fulfill their obligations to each other and their children.

• Laws ensure that– Each spouse supports one another– Deceased spouse’s property is shared– Spouses share equally in debts – Spouse has rights to deceased spouse’s benefits

Figure 13.5: Community Property and Equity Distribution States

Community Property Settlement

• Properties to be negotiated– Marital property: assets owned by both spouses– Separate property: assets owned individually– Tangible property: homes, cars, furniture– Intangible property: assets that do not have

market value, but have inherent value

Family Laws Guiding Property Division• Current and future earnings, also level of

education, earning potential• Current standard of living – judges distribute

assets so that neither partner suffers a decline in lifestyle

• Individual contributions to the marriage- unique contributions each spouse brought to the marriage

Family Laws Guiding Property Division• Length of the marriage – the longer the

marriage, the more difficult it is to determine separate property

• Age and health – older spouses, spouses in poorer mental condition

• Equitable Distribution each spouse receives a fair share

• Community property – 50/50 split

Spousal Support

• Alimony – monetary payment that one spouse pays to the other spouse during and after the divorce proceedings

• Commonly referred to as spousal support• Rehabilitative alimony – short term

payments

Child Support• Spouses have an obligation to provide for

any children under 18• Payments are paid out in fixed, monthly

payments• Based on parent’s gross income

Figure 13.6: Total Collections Received by Method of Collections, 2007

Figure 13.7: Total Current Support Due, 2008

Child Custody• Custody refers to who is responsible for the

children’s financial, physical and emotional well-being

• Legal custody – which parent has the right to make decisions about how the child is reared

• Shared legal custody – both parents have an equal say in child’s upbringing

Joint Custody• Shared decision making• Joint legal custody – both parents share

equally in child rearing• Joint physical custody – children spend close

to equal time with each parent• Joint legal and physical custody – both

parents share equally in decisions and physical custody

Joint Custody• Physical custody – the parent has the right to

have the child reside primarily with them• Sole custody – one parent is the primary

parent (legally, physically, or both legally and physically)

• Bird’s nest – joint custody where parents are the ones who move between homes

Divorce Mediation• A process that helps resolve child support, child

custody, and property settlements• Divorce mediator – an objective third party to

the divorce• Mediators – summarize each party’s information– Help each partner find options and solutions– Help partners find mutually-agreed upon

settlement