Questions and Answers
Are the reasons for, effects of, or way one communicates a desire to break up a relationship different between opposite and same sex couples?
Few differences
About how many couples stay together (don't divorce) for at least 10 years?
What are the average ages of first divorce for men and women?
Men: 31.8, Women: 29.4
Who is most likely to break up: same sex female, same sex male, heterosexual cohabiting, or heterosexual married couples?
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Has marital satisfaction increased, decreased, or stayed the same over the last 25 years?
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Is our divorce rate higher, lower, or about equal to that of Sweden, Canada, Mexico, France, and England?
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What factors contribute to the current divorce rate?
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What are the 3 hypotheses regarding why couples divorce according to the PAIR project?
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What were the findings of the early years of marriage project with regard to race?
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What do researchers think contribute to divorce and how is this different from people's perceptions?
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Who has a greater respect for marriage on average according to the research?
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What is churning in relationships?
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Who is more likely to maintain a relationship with an ex-partner?
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Is it harder to be rejected or to do the rejecting?
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What typically happens to dating couples' relationships in the months after they break up?
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What attachment styles tend to have a harder time letting go of a romantic relationship?
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How soon does the average person remarry after divorce?
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What are people's relationships like with former spouses when children are involved?
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Which model currently has the greatest support regarding divorce's impact on children?
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Study Notes
Relationship Dynamics
- Communication differences when breaking up vary little between same-sex and opposite-sex couples.
- Couples in cohabitation are more likely to break up, as cohabitation creates stronger commitments.
Marriage Statistics
- Approximately 64% of couples remain married for at least 10 years.
- The average marriage length in the US is 18 years.
- Men experience first divorce at an average age of 31.8, while women do so at 29.4.
Divorce Rates
- The US divorce rate is higher compared to Sweden, Canada, Mexico, France, and England.
- Decline in marital satisfaction noted over the past 25 years; fewer couples report being "very happy."
Divorce Causes
- High divorce rates attributed to increased expectations from marriage, greater financial independence for women, social mobility, and weakened commitment due to cohabitation.
- Children from divorced families are more likely to experience divorce themselves.
Vulnerability-Stress-Adaption Model
- Quality of marriage influenced by lasting vulnerabilities, adaptive processes, and stressors.
- Enduring vulnerabilities include maladaptive traits, poor educational background, and dysfunctional attitudes toward marriage.
PAIR Project Insights
- Three hypotheses on why couples divorce include:
- Enduring Dynamics model focuses on incompatibilities present at marriage onset.
- Emergent Distress highlights behaviors damaging marital satisfaction post-marriage.
- Disillusionment points to unrealistic expectations undermining relationship stability.
Demographic Findings
- Divorce rates higher amongst Black couples associated with cohabitation, pre-marital children, and lower income.
- Cultural, personal, and relational contexts influence divorce perceptions and outcomes.
Duck's Relational Dissolution Model
- Intra-psychic Phase: Initial dissatisfaction and comparison of flaws.
- Dyadic Phase: Communication of issues and potential resolution attempts.
- Social Phase: Involvement of social support systems and consideration of alternatives.
- Grave-Dressing Phase: Emotional processing and narrative construction after breakup.
- Resurrection Phase: Re-entry into social life, often with a new perspective post-breakup.
Relationship Continuity and Recovery
- Churning refers to the cyclical nature of breakups and reconciliations, often linked to lower satisfaction.
- Same-sex couples tend to maintain better relationships with ex-partners compared to heterosexual couples.
Predictive Relationships of Divorce
- College students predominantly utilize indirect strategies for breaking up and often lack formal repair efforts.
- Individuals often overestimate initial distress post-breakup while accurately predicting recovery.
Attachment and Healing
- Individuals with insecure attachment styles struggle with letting go post-relationship.
- Monitoring an ex-partner on social media hinders healing processes.
Life Satisfaction After Divorce
- Most individuals experience long-term declines in happiness post-divorce but recover over time.
- Average remarrying timeline is within four years; women's socio-economic situations often decline while men's improve after divorce.
Post-Divorce Relationships and Support
- Ex-spouses typically fall into four categories: Fiery foes, Angry associates, Cooperative colleagues, and Perfect pals, with about 50% maintaining amicable relationships post-divorce.
Impact of Divorce on Children
- Parental conflict has the most detrimental impact on children compared to parental loss or economic hardship.
- Quality of parenting significantly affects children's outcomes; supportive environments foster better adjustment in children.
- Children exposed to angry vocalizations experience negative emotional responses, even in infancy.
Long-term Effects
- Negative outcomes stemming from divorce may diminish with time.
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Description
Explore the complexities of relationship breakups and the longevity of marriages through this study guide quiz. Discover how same-sex and opposite-sex couples communicate their desires to end a relationship and learn about the average duration of marriages in the US.
