1. The Dissolution of Marriage
Chapter 15
The Dissolution of Marriage

2. Chapter Outline Let No One Put Asunder
Reasons for America’s High Divorce Rate
Emotional Divorce and the Emotions of Divorce
Divorce but Not the End of the Relationship

3. Chapter Outline Problems of the Newly Divorced Divorce: The Legalities
Divorce Counseling and Mediation
Reducing Divorce Rates
Divorce May Not Be the Answer

4. Divorce Rates
The crude divorce rate—the ratio of divorces to each 1,000 persons within the population—is really a better, though less dramatic, measure of marital stability than the ratio of divorces to marriages in a given year.

5. The Number of Divorces and Divorce Rates
Year
# Divorces
Rate/1000 total population
2003
3.8
2002
4.0
2001
1998
1,135,000
4.3
1996
1,158,000
4.4
1990
1,175,000
4.7

6. 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

7. Serial Marriages
Serial marriages: Marrying, divorcing, and marrying again; a series of legal marriages

8. Divorce Rates Worldwide
Country
Divorce as a % of all Marriages
Russia 65
Sweden 64
Finland 56
Britain 53
United States 49
Canada 45

9. Divorce Rates Worldwide
Country
Divorce as a % of all Marriages
France 43
Germany 41
Israel 26
Greece 18
Spain 17
Italy 12

10. Reasons for America’s High Divorce Rate
Most divorcing couples cite personal reasons, such as unhappiness, poor communication, sexual failure, and general dissatisfaction.
Americans ask a great deal of modern marriage. High expectations often lead to disappointment and failure.

11. Reasons for America’s High Divorce Rate
Tied closely to Americans’ high expectations of marriage is the freedom of individuals to make marital choices.
Changing gender roles are part of the American interest in the general concept of change and its benefits.

12. Reasons for America’s High Divorce Rate
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.
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.

13. Reasons for America’s High Divorce Rate
The mobility of Americans may contribute. Families that move often may not create support networks.
Social upheaval, economic problems, and the general health of the society.

14. Reasons for America’s High Divorce Rate
The stigma of divorce has largely vanished over the past 30years.
Personal inadequacies, failures, and problems that contribute to each individual divorce.

15. Reasons for America’s High Divorce Rate
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.

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

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

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

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

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. Quick Quiz

27. 1. In this custody case, the children are assigned to one parent
Joint Custody
Sole Custody
Split Custody
None of these

28. Answer: b
In sole custody cases, the children are assigned to one parent.

29. 2. An award decreed by divorce that is reviewed periodically
Reviewable alimony
Palimony
Joint custody
Split Custody

30. Answer: a
Reviewable alimony is an award that can be reviewed periodically.

31. 3. Which of these are one of the last emotional stages of divorce as described by the text?
Doubt
Broken Solidarity
Separation
Reconstruction

32. Answer: d
Reconstruction is one of the last emotional stages of divorce, according to the text.