Cohabitating Parents and Outcomes for ChildrenBetween 10 and 20% of all births occur to a cohabiting mother.Perhaps half or more are planned38% of cohabiting heterosexual households contain children under age 18Having a child while cohabiting does not necessarily increase a coupes odds of staying together, but conceiving a child during cohabitation and then marrying before the baby is born does increase union stabilityChildren’s OutcomesInstability with cohabitation is related to problematic outcomes for childrenCohabiting parents spend less on their children’s education than do marriedsAdolescents are more likely to experience earlier premarital intercourse, higher rates of school suspension. And antisocial and delinquent behaviorsCompared to single parent homes, children do benefit economicallyCohabitation and RemarriageRoughly half of those who remarry after a divorce cohabit before formally remarryingPost-divorce cohabitation is now more common than premarital cohabitationMarital quality and happiness appear to be lower among post divorce (pre-marriage) cohabiters.Cohabitation and marriage comparedDifferent commitmentsMarriages begin with spouses pledging a lifelong commitment to each otherLiving together tends to be a more temporary arrangement than marriageCohabiters are less certain of a lifetime together and tend to live more autonomous livesSelecting a PartnerCultural Pressure in Mate SelectionTwo forms of cultural pressure that restrict and influence partner selection:EndogamyExpectation to marry within ones social group (race, religion, social class)ExogamyExpectation to marry outside ones own family group and outside our sex.Race and MarriageLess than 1% of the over 63 million marriages in the United States consist of a black spouse and a white spouseOnly about one in 10 racial intermarriages are between an African American and CaucasianHomogamyThe homogamy theory of mate selection states that we tend to be attracted to and become involved with those who are similar to us in characteristics such as: age, education, religion, social class, etc.The more couples have in common, the higher the reported relationship satisfaction and the more durable the relationshipHomogamy: 15 Factors1. Race2. Age3. Intelligence4. Education5. Open-Mindedness6. Social Class7. Physical Appearance8. Career9. Marital status10. Religion/Spirituality/ Politics11. Personality12. Circadian Preference (a.m. or p.m. preference)13. Traditional Roles14. Geographic Background15. Economic Values, Money Management, and DebtThe Marriage Squeeze and Mating GradientMarriage squeezeThe gender imbalance reflected in the ratio of available unmarried women and menMembers of one gender tend to be “squeezed” of the marriage marketMating gradientThe tendency for women to marry men of higher statusMen tend to marry women slightly below them in age, education, and so onInternet and Other Ways of Finding a Partner20% of all new relationships begin onlineAppsOnline dating is moving from the Web to mobile devices – apps. POF (Plentyoffish), Skout.com, Zoosk.com, and Tinder are examples.Speed DatingInvolve the concept of the eight-minute date.Saves time because it allows daters to meet face to face without burning up a whole evening.Why get married?Motivations for and Functions of Marriage Individual Motivations for MarriageLovePersonal FulfillmentCompanionshipParenthoodEconomic securityPsychological well beingThe Time Honored Marriage Premise:Expectations of permanence derive from the fact that historically marriage was a practical institution.In the United States today, marriage seldom involves merging two families’ properties.Providing love andongoing emotional support has become key for most people.EngagementThe culmination of the premarital dating processTime in which the romantic partners are sexually monogamous, committed to marry, and focused on wedding preparationsMore significance as a ritual than as a binding commitment to be marriedVisiting Your Partners ParentsIf you want to know what your partner may be like in the future, look at his or her parent of the same sexIf you want to know how your partner is likely to treat you in the future, observe the way your partners parent of the same sex treats and interacts with his or her spouseFSHD 257 1st Edition Lecture 8Outline of Last Lecture I. Compare and contrast voluntarily and involuntarily married individualsII. Examine the outcomes and influences that relate to cohabitation Outline of Current Lecture III. Continuation of the cohabitation lecture from last classIV. Exploration of who and how we choose when selecting a partnerV. Compare the reasons as to why individuals get married Current Lecture Cohabitating Parents and Outcomes for Children- Between 10 and 20% of all births occur to a cohabiting mother. - Perhaps half or more are planned- 38% of cohabiting heterosexual households contain children under age 18- Having a child while cohabiting does not necessarily increase a coupes odds of staying together, but conceiving a child during cohabitation and then marrying before the baby is born does increase union stability  Children’s Outcomes- Instability with cohabitation is related to problematic outcomes for children- Cohabiting parents spend less on their children’s education than do marrieds- Adolescents are more likely to experience earlier premarital intercourse, higher ratesof school suspension. And antisocial and delinquent behaviors- Compared to single parent homes, children do benefit economically  Cohabitation and Remarriage- Roughly half of those who remarry after a divorce cohabit before formally remarrying- Post-divorce cohabitation is now more common than premarital cohabitation These 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.- Marital quality and happiness appear to be lower among post divorce (pre-marriage)cohabiters.  Cohabitation and marriage compared- Different commitments - Marriages begin with spouses pledging a lifelong commitment to each other- Living together tends to be a more temporary arrangement than marriage- Cohabiters are less certain of a lifetime together and tend to live more autonomous lives  Selecting a Partner  Cultural Pressure in Mate Selection - Two forms of cultural pressure that restrict and influence partner selection: o Endogamy Expectation to