CEP 260 1nd Edition Lecture 6 Outline of Last Lecture I. RelationshipsOutline of Current Lecture I. Challenges to the Traditional Model of Marriage II. Deciding to MarryIII. Predictors of Marital SuccessIV. Marital AdjustmentsV. Vulnerable AreasVI. Divorce and RemarriageVII. Alternative Relationship StylesCurrent LectureChallenges to the Traditional Model of Marriage• Marriage – the legally and socially sanctioned union of sexually intimate adults• Traditionally, it has also included– Economic interdependence.– Common residence.– Sexual fidelity.– Shared responsibility for children.• However, the following social trends have challenged the “traditional” model of marriage:– Increased acceptance of singlehood – since the 1960s, the median age at which people marry has been increasing– Increased acceptance of cohabitation – living together in a sexually intimate relationship without the legal bonds of marriageThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.Deciding to MarryCultural influences on marriages• 80% of world cultures practice arranged marriages.• Priority is placed on the family’s, rather than the individual’s, welfare.• Monogamy - the practice of having only one spouse at a time• Polygamy - having more than one spouse at a time– Polygamy is practiced in many cultures.– It is most common where women have little or no independence, access to education, or political power.• Endogamy – the tendency of people to marry within their own social group• Homogamy – the tendency of people to marry others who have similar personal characteristics• Gender and mate selection preferences– Women place more value on a potential partner’s socioeconomic status, intelligence, ambition, and financial prospects.– Men place more value on a potential partner’s youthfulness and physical attractiveness.Predictors of marital success– Family background – people whose parents were divorced are more likely to divorce themselves.– Age – those who marry at a younger age are more likely to divorce.– Length of courtship – longer periods of courtship are associated with marital success.– Personality – perfectionism and insecurity are loosely associated with marital problems.– Personality – perfectionism and insecurity are loosely associated with marital problems.– Premarital interaction – quality of premarital communication is especially crucial.• Negativity, sarcasm, insulting remarks and being unsupportive are all associated with marital distress.Marital Adjustments• The family life cycle – an orderly sequence of developmental stages that families tend to progress through• McGoldrick’s (1988, 1999) model outlines the special challenges that are faced by couples as they progress through six stages of family life 1. Between families: the unattached young adult• As people postpone marriage, this stage will likely lengthen.2. Joining together: the newly married couple• This “honeymoon” phase is characterized by high levels of satisfaction.3. Family with young children• Birth of the first child brings a major transition and potential stress, especially for mothers.• The key to reducing stress during this transition is having realistic expectations.4. Family with adolescent children• Adolescence is rated as the most difficult stage of parenting, and marital satisfaction is at its lowest point.• Conflict is especially likely between teens (both males and females) and mothers.• In addition, many couples are also caring for their own aging parents. These double responsibilities spurred the term, the “sandwich generation”.5. Launching children into the adult world.• Also called the “empty nest” phase, it was traditionally thought to create feelingsof loss.• However, women’s roles extend beyond parenthood, and this is now generally associated with greater marital satisfaction.• Problems usually only occur when adult children return to “the nest”.6. The family in later life• Marital satisfaction tends to climb in the postparental period when couples have more time to devote to one another.• This continues until a spouse’s health begins to decline and/or a spouse dies.Vulnerable Areas1. Gaps in role expectations– There are now new expectations about marital roles, and women are especially affected.• More women now have demanding careers.• Yet, they are often interrupted to have children or to follow their husbands.– In addition, wives still do 65% of the household chores, even whenthey work similar hours (see Figure 10.5).2. Work and career issues– Work and marital adjustment• Husbands and wives struggle to balance the demands of work and family.• However, benefits of multiple roles to both spouses include– Social support.– Increased income.– Having more in common.– Parents’ work and children’s development.• Parents often worry about the impact of their dual careers on the children.• However, there is actually little evidence that a mother’s working is harmful to her children, especially after the child is one year of age.3. Financial difficulties– Serious financial worries tend to cause• Increased hostility in husbands.• Increased depression in wives.• Lower marital happiness in both spouses.– In addition, risk of separation and divorce increases as husband’s income declines.– Arguments over how to spend money are common and potentially damaging at all income levels.4. Inadequate communication– Communication problems are the most frequently cited problem among couples getting a divorce (see Figure 10.6).– In addition, unhappy couples• Find it difficult to convey positive messages.• Misunderstand each other more often.• Don’t recognize they’ve been misunderstood.• Use more negative messages.• Prefer different amounts of self-disclosure.Divorce• Although the rate of divorce is declining, it is still high enough to cause concern.• Most divorces occur during the first decade of marriage, usually due to1. Communication difficulties.2. Infidelity.3. Jealousy.4. Growing apart.5. Foolish spending behavior.6. Substance abuse.• The decision to divorce is a complex one that is usually the result of a long series of smaller events that unfold over a long period of time.• Divorce is more difficult and