Separation and Divorce

Michael ItagakiSociology 275, Marriage and

Family

America and Divorce Do we like/not like marriage?

One of the highest marriage rates One of highest divorce rates One of highest remarriage rates

America and Divorce Discussion

What are some reasons you personally might consider a divorce?

Is falling out of love an appropriate reason for wanting a divorce?

What were you taught growing up about the acceptability of divorce?

America and Divorce Idealization of marriage By 1974, more marriages ended by

divorce than by death. Divorce = deviance vs. part of

family life cycle

Measuring Divorce Divorce rate = 50%...correct?

2.2 million marriages annually 1.1 million divorces annually Question: Divorced couples not from

same group that got married in that same year?

Measuring Divorce All marriages and all divorces

60 million married couples in U.S. 1.25 million divorces annually Divorce rate = 2% Figure 12.11

Measuring Divorce

Crude Divorce Rate Number of divorces in a given year

for every 1,000 people in the population.

In 2002, there were 4.0 divorces for every 1,000 Americans.

Measuring Divorce

Refined divorce rate. Measures the number of divorces

that occur in a given year for every 1,000 marriages.

In 1998, the refined rate was 19 to 20 divorces per 1,000 married women, meaning 2% of marriages ended in divorce.

Divorce Trends in the U.S. Both marriage and divorce rates

have declined The marriage rate is at its lowest

point since the 1930s. In more recent years the rate has

declined.

Divorce Through the 20th Century and BeyondYear Number

Rate Per 1,000 Married women

1900 55,751 3

1920 170,506 8

1940 264,000 9

1960 393,000 9.2

1980 1,189,000 22.6

1995 1,169,000 19.8

2001 NA NA

Factors Affecting Divorce Shift from agricultural to

industrial society Social integration Individualistic American culture

Factors Affecting Divorce Demographic factors:

Employment status Income Educational level Ethnicity Religion.

Factors Affecting Divorce Life Course Factors:

Age Premarital pregnancy Remarriage

Factors Affecting Divorce Life Course Factors:

Intergenerational transmission (Amato, 1996)

Parental divorce increases chance of child’s marriage ending within first five years by as much as 70%.

Increased risk of divorce is especially great if both spouses experienced parental divorce.

Effects are strongest when parents divorce early in child’s life (age 12 or younger)

Factors Affecting Divorce Family Processes

Marital happiness Children Marital Problems

No Fault Divorce

Stations of Divorce

(Bohannan) As people divorce, they undergo these “divorces” simultaneously. Emotional Legal Economic Co-parental Community Psychic

Marital Separation

Uncoupling—The process by which couples drift apart in predictable stages. The initiator voices complaints. Eventually, the initiator ends the

relationship. Uncoupling ends when both

partners acknowledge the relationship cannot be saved.

Marital Separation

Separation Distress Ultimately, negative aspects of

separation are balanced with the positive aspects

Almost all attention centered on missing partner

Euphoria can follow, but fall back into separation anxiety.

Separation distress slowly gives way to loneliness.

Marital Separation

Postdivorce Identity Two phases of establishing new

identity: Transition Recovery

Marital Separation

Dating Again Important for separated or divorced

people. Formal statement of the end of a

marriage Permits individuals to enhance their

self-esteem.

Consequences of Divorce No-Fault Divorce: Putting women and

children at a disadvantage Economic consequences include:

Impoverishment of women Changed female employment patterns Very limited child support and alimony

Consequences of Divorce Non-economic consequences include:

More psychological distress, lower levels of happiness, more social isolation, more health problems.

Divorced people are three times as likely to commit suicide.

Some divorced people experience higher levels of personal growth and greater autonomy.

Children and Divorce

Children in happy two-parent families are the best adjusted

Children in conflict-ridden two-parent families are the worst adjusted.

Children from single-parent families are in the middle.

Children and Divorce

Key to child’s adjustment: lack of conflict

Telling children about separation: It’s very difficult Relief or not, guilt accompanies

feeling

Children and Divorce

Three-Stage Process of divorce for children: Initial stage—Turmoil is greatest. Transition stage—Adjusting to new

family. Restabilization stage—Integration of

changes.

Children and Divorce

Developmental tasks of divorce: Acknowledging parental separation Disengaging from parental conflicts Resolving loss Resolving anger and self-blame Accepting the finality of divorce Achieving realistic expectations for

later relationship success

Children and Divorce

Children’s responses to divorce: Varies by age

Younger children Adolescents

Children and Divorce

Adjustment to divorce: Open discussion prior to divorce Continued involvement with

noncustodial parent Lack of hostility between divorced

parents

Children and Divorce

Adjustment to divorce: Good psychological adjustment to

divorce by custodial parent Stable living situation and good

parenting skills. Continued involvement with the

children by both parents

Children and Divorce

Adjustment to divorce: Children of divorce suffer:

Reduction of income Weakening ties with fathers Loss of “residential stability” Problems in school Greater likelihood of becoming teen

parents.

Children and Divorce

Adjustment to divorce: Not all children suffer negative

consequences. 90% of children with divorced

parents achieve same level well-being as children of continuously married parents (Amato, 2003).

Child Custody

Generally based on one of 2 standards: The best interests of the child The least detrimental of the

available alternatives. The major types of custody are

sole, joint, and split.

Child Custody

Sole custody Accounts for 85% of

all U.S. divorce cases Women traditionally

have been responsible for child rearing

Many men do not feel competent

Child Custody

Joint custody Accounts for 10% of cases. Joint legal custody

Children live primarily with one parent Both parents share in decisions

regarding the children. Joint physical custody

Requires parents to work out practical logistics

…as well as feelings about each other.

Child Custody

Split custody Splits the children between the

parents Usually girls live with mother, boys

with father

Custody Disputes

As a result of custody disputes, as many as 350,000 children are stolen from custodial parents each year.

Most are returned home within a week.

What to Do About Divorce Is divorce the problem or is it a

solution to other problems? Cultural idea of divorce Legal matters of divorce

Covenant marriages New family forms emerging