The Dissolution of Marriage

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Chapter 15

• The Dissolution of Marriage

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Chapter Outline

• Let No One Put Asunder
• Reasons for Americas High Divorce Rate
• Emotional Divorce and the Emotions of Divorce
• Divorce but Not the End of the Relationship

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Chapter Outline

• Problems of the Newly Divorced
• Divorce The Legalities
• Divorce Counseling and Mediation
• Reducing Divorce Rates
• Divorce May Not Be the Answer

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Divorce Rates

• The crude divorce ratethe ratio of divorces to
  each 1,000 persons within the populationis
  really a better, though less dramatic, measure of
  marital stability than the ratio of divorces to
  marriages in a given year.

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The Number of Divorces and Divorce Rates
Year Divorces Rate/1000 total population
2003 3.8
2002 4.0
2001 4.0
1998 1,135,000 4.3
1996 1,158,000 4.4
1990 1,175,000 4.7
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The Number of Divorces and Divorce Rates
Year Divorces Rate/1000 total population
1985 1,172,000 4.9
1980 1,182,000 5.2
1970 773,000 3.7
1960 393,000 2.2
1950 385,000 2.6
1946 610,000 4.3
1940 293,000 2.2
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Serial Marriages

• Serial marriages Marrying, divorcing, and
  marrying again a series of legal marriages

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Divorce Rates Worldwide
Country Divorce as a of all Marriages
Russia 65
Sweden 64
Finland 56
Britain 53
United States 49
Canada 45
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Divorce Rates Worldwide
Country Divorce as a of all Marriages
France 43
Germany 41
Israel 26
Greece 18
Spain 17
Italy 12
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Reasons for Americas High Divorce Rate

1. Most divorcing couples cite personal reasons,
   such as unhappiness, poor communication, sexual
   failure, and general dissatisfaction.
2. Americans ask a great deal of modern marriage.
   High expectations often lead to disappointment
   and failure.

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Reasons for Americas High Divorce Rate

1. Tied closely to Americans high expectations of
   marriage is the freedom of individuals to make
   marital choices.
2. Changing gender roles are part of the American
   interest in the general concept of change and its
   benefits.

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Reasons for Americas High Divorce Rate

1. Economic independence of women encourages
   separation and divorce. When a wife had no
   economic alternatives, she was forced to tolerate
   an unsatisfactory marriage, in return for
   economic security.
2. With so many kinds of people and so many beliefs,
   attitudes, and value systems, family and marriage
   will naturally mean many and different things to
   different individuals.

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Reasons for Americas High Divorce Rate

1. The mobility of Americans may contribute.
   Families that move often may not create support
   networks.
2. Social upheaval, economic problems, and the
   general health of the society.

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Reasons for Americas High Divorce Rate

1. The stigma of divorce has largely vanished over
   the past 30years.
2. Personal inadequacies, failures, and problems
   that contribute to each individual divorce.

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Reasons for Americas High Divorce Rate

1. A number of risk factors tend to predict marital
   instability. Those marrying at a young age are
   more prone to divorce. Premarital pregnancy,
   children born out of wedlock, parental divorce,
   and remarriage all relate to a greater
   probability of divorce.

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Emotions of Divorce

1. First, there are clouds of doubt, early signs
   that the marriage is getting into trouble.
2. This is followed by a variety of distancing
   behaviors as the couple becomes more dissatisfied.

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Emotions of Divorce

1. One of the partners begins to imagine living
   apart, or substituting a new partner for the old
   partner.
2. The possibility of divorce is first mentioned.
3. The appearance of solidarity is broken before the
   public.

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Emotions of Divorce

1. The decision to divorce is made, usually after
   long discussion and much vacillation.
2. The crisis of actual physical separation follows.
   
3. Final severance comes with the actual divorce.

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Emotions of Divorce

1. A period of mental conflict and reconstruction
   follows the divorce.
2. If children are present, the divorced partners
   relationship may never end, because the problems
   of coparenting remain.

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Types of Child Custody

• The most common is sole custody.
• In this case, the children are assigned to one
  parent who has sole responsibility for physically
  raising the children.
• In joint custody, the children divide their time
  between the parents, who share the various
  decisions about their children.

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Types of Child Custody

• In split custody, children are divided between
  the parents.
• This method separates the children from each
  other but reduces the burden on a parent who
  might otherwise have sole custody of the
  children.
• The court may award custody to someone other than
  a parent or parents.

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Legal terms

• No-fault divorce Divorce proceeding that does
  not place blame for the divorce on one spouse or
  the other.
• Reviewable alimony An award of alimony that is
  reviewed periodically and changed if necessary.

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Describing Goals in Behavioral Terms
Vague Goals Action Goals
Be respectful. You will ask me about my day. I will compliment you about your work.
Be more loving. You will tell me you love me at least once a week. I will volunteer to watch the kids so you can go out.
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Describing Goals in Behavioral Terms
Vague Goals Action Goals
Be more sexual. I will initiate sex once a week. I will suggest we try something different. You will be more verbal when we make love.
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Describing Goals in Behavioral Terms
Vague Goals Action Goals
Be less selfish. You will ask what I want to do on weekends. I will check with you before making plans. I will clean up if you make dinner.
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Quick Quiz
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1. In this custody case, the children are
assigned to one parent

1. Joint Custody
2. Sole Custody
3. Split Custody
4. None of these

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Answer b

• In sole custody cases, the children are assigned
  to one parent.

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2. An award decreed by divorce that is reviewed
periodically

1. Reviewable alimony
2. Palimony
3. Joint custody
4. Split Custody

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Answer a

• Reviewable alimony is an award that can be
  reviewed periodically.

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3. Which of these are one of the last emotional
stages of divorce as described by the text?

1. Doubt
2. Broken Solidarity
3. Separation
4. Reconstruction

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Answer d

• Reconstruction is one of the last emotional
  stages of divorce, according to the text.