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