... 1 Divorce John Smith SOC/100 – Introduction to Sociology April 21st, 2011 Professor Deidra Powell-Wallace DIVORCE 2 Divorce In today’s society, the most important matter is family. For most people, family is the primary reason people strive to do well. Family is the most instrumental and influential aspect in many people’s lives. But similar to how every hero has a villain, there is something that can dismantle a family’s bond or relationship so easily, and that is divorce. Divorce is something that some people have no problem with, but for most people it can have such a great effect and after it happens people are never the same. In today’s society divorce can happen for many reasons, but how can we fix it? In some cases divorce is necessary, for example if the relationship between the couple is unhealthy and one or neither person can stay committed, then divorce would be the appropriate action, but when neither person can stay committed to the other then those people should not have gotten married in the first place. According to a blog writer that goes by the name land mammal from writing.com says, “If there is a physically or emotionally abusive spouse belonging to the marriage it may be pertinent to resolve such an issue through means of divorce for example. However, the conditions which are used to justify divorce in a marriage...
Words: 896 - Pages: 4
...ause and Effect of Divorce In today’s society, divorce is more the norm than ever before. Forty percent of all marriages end in divorce. Divorce defined by Webster is the action or an instance of legally dissolving a marriage. Divorce itself is both a cause and effect. There are many causes of divorce. Some of the causes happen more often than others. For instance, the most common causes of divorce are poor communication, financial problems such as lack of money, lack of commitment to marriage, a dramatic change in priorities, infidelity, sexual indiscretion and the ease of getting a divorce. These are some of the most common causes of divorce. The effects of a divorce seem insurmountable when comparing the grief it causes on both sides. Most people describe the cause and effects of a divorce. (Divorce Cause and Effect) (Causes of Divorce) The cause of increasing divorce is lack of communication. Most couples have poor communication. A marriage is on the rocks when the lines of communication fail. A couple can’t have an effective relationship if neither one of them won’t discuss their feelings, cant’ talk about mutual or personal issues, will keep their resentments simmering under wraps, and expect your partner to guess what the whole problem is about. Communication is a very important part of a relationship. This is one of the reason’s pre-martial counseling is encouraged. (Panse) Communication can help in understanding one another. Couples...
Words: 326 - Pages: 2
...importance of the family is not taken seriously and is taken for granted by those who do experience it. Without a strong based family, a child loses key lessons from his or her parents: and when a child grows up with out knowing right from wrong the end result can be devastating. A child that grows up in a dysfunctional{what is dysfunctional to you may not be to others…may want to be a little more specific} family is at greater risk to do drugs, drop out of school, be sexually active, be abused, and live in poverty.((< definitely cite this. Although it may seem like common sense, it would be much more credible with a source for the info added in.)) [Divorce seems almost normal in America. The moment the marriage gets hard divorce is the decision immediately made]. {Reflects paragraph well: but be more assertive: “Divorce is an average agenda in everyday American life.”} What happened to “till death do us part”, not “till hard...
Words: 1374 - Pages: 6
...Divorce is stressful for parents and kids alike. Although reactions will depend on a child's age, temperament, and the circumstances surrounding the split, many kids feel sad, frustrated, angry, and anxious — and it's not uncommon for them to act out because of those feelings. Fortunately, parents can help their kids during a divorce. By minimizing the tension the situation creates, being patient as everyone adjusts to the new situation, and responding openly and honestly to your kids' concerns, you can help them through this difficult time. Crucial to a child's ability to get through a divorce is the ability of the divorcing parents to maintain a civil relationship. Conflict between parents — whether they're separated, divorced, or still together — causes major stress for kids that can last well beyond childhood. HOW TO TELL CHILDREN- About Divorce As soon as you're certain of your plans, talk to your child about your decision to live apart. Although there's no easy way to break the news, IT IS BEST WHEN BOTH PARENTS ARE THERE FOR THIS CONVERSATION. And it's important to leave feelings of anger, guilt, or blame out of it. be sure to convey one basic message: What happened is between mom and dad and does not have anything to do with the CHILDREN. Most CHILDREN will feel they are to blame even after parents have said that they are not. So it's vital for parents to keep providing this reassurance. Try to answer their questions as truthfully as possible, in a...
Words: 669 - Pages: 3
...How common is divorce and what are the reasons: Divorce is both very personal and all too common. But there are many myths about divorce. Individuals at the crossroads of divorce may benefit by knowing the research facts about divorce rates, factors that are associated with a higher risk of divorce, and common reasons that people give for divorcing. What percentage of marriages end in divorce? In the United States, researchers estimate that 40%–50% of all first marriages will end in divorce or permanent separation.The risk of divorce is even higher for second marriages, about 60%. Utah’s divorce rate is just slightly above the national average. Divorce has always been present in American society. Although divorce has always been a concern, it has become more common in the last 50 years. The highest divorce rates ever recorded were in the 1970s and early 1980s. Since then the divorce rate actually has decreased a little, but it still remains at a historically high rate. What factors are associated with a higher risk for divorce? To say that nearly half of all first marriages end in divorce sounds a lot like saying marriage is just a game of chance. But a lot of research has identified various factors that are associated with a higher risk for divorce. So some people actually have a low risk of divorce while others have a high risk. Understanding these factors may not directly help you improve your marriage or make a decision about divorce, but it may help you understand...
Words: 1400 - Pages: 6
...“Divorce” Taking from the first legalized divorce to the till date, the number of divorcees have flooded. Divorce is the legal separation of husband and wife from each other and living on their own. The first legal divorce was found to be done in the date of Jan 5, 1643 in American colonies, Anne Clarke of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. From the many studies on divorce, it has shown some results on the cause, effects and the advantages and disadvantages of divorce. From the study of the divorce rate in the world the top ten most divorced countries are 1) Belgium (71%) 2) Portugal (68%) 3) Hungary (67%) 4) Czech Republic (66%) 5) Spain (61%) 6) Luxembourg (60%) 7) Estonia (58%) 8) Cuba (56%) 9) France (55%) and 10) USA (53%). The lowest divorced rate is in Chile with an average of 4% divorce rate. These are the divorced average rate in European countries where love marriages are in practice but with the study of data the rate of divorce in arrange marriage is found significantly low than love marriages, with an average of 4% divorce rate. This data is almost similar to the lowest rate of divorce in the world (i.e. Chile). Nowadays most of the nation has legalized the divorce. Some of the countries with declared law for divorce and the date for their legalization are; US- 1701 (Maryland State) – 1949-50 (South Carolina State) – 1970 (Alabama State), Spain- 1981, Soviet Union- 1917-1926, Scotland- 1976, Scandinavia-1909-1929, Prussia -1794, Ireland- 1997, German States- 1875, France-...
Words: 1314 - Pages: 6
...Running Head: Research Paper – Effect of Divorce on Parenting Derin Ireyomi 103091991 University of Windsor 02-48-305 Dr. Omorodion Abstract In the past two decades, the trend of divorce and shared custody has increased and affected the lives of almost 57% of couples and their children (Boyan, 2003). Divorces have been known to have a huge effect on parenting practices of both the mother and the father. For the complete and balanced development of children and adolescents, the involvement of both the father and the mother is extremely crucial. From playing and socializing during the primary years to negotiation, monitoring and supervision in early teens, both the mother and father play equal guiding roles in the development of children (Boyan, 2003). Introduction Children who have both parents feel successful, competent and happy, when both parents are involved in their lives (Markham et al, 2012). Conversely, children who live with a single parent are more likely to feel unhappy, depressed, and garner an awkward feeling (Schwartz, 2006). Additionally, couples involved in the divorce also experience a huge effect on their parenting practices and their daily lives as well (Sayer, 2006). This paper will investigate the negative effects divorce has on parenting practices and how it will affect the way the children are raised. Through this, I will analyze the evidence provided in the articles by Sayer (2006), Pruett (1998), Schwartz (2007), and other authors to determine...
Words: 2799 - Pages: 12
...The effect of divorce on children and adolescents psychologically: An annotated bibliography Fagan, Patrick. ":::THC-WCF:::." :::THC-WCF:::. The World Congress of Families II, 08 Nov. 1999. Web. 06 June 2013. The author, Patrick Fagan, Ph.D., uses data from, The World Congress of Families II, to show that each year over a million children suffer the divorce of their parents since now the American culture embraces divorce in law and in behavior. The devastating effects of divorce on children have risen as time has passed. Divorces are effecting children all over the nation, some more than others. Divorce permanently weakens the relationship between children and parents. It leads to destructive ways of handling conflict, diminishes social competence, leads to early loss of virginity, and it diminishes young adults’ sense of masculinity or femininity. It leads to more trouble in dating, to more cohabitation, to higher divorce rates later in life, to higher expectations of divorce, and to less desire for children, states Patrick Fagan in his article. Senior Fellow and Director of the MRRI, Family Research Council, Patrick Fagan, in his article goes well in detail on the topic of the effect that divorce has on children and adolescents psychologically. As an experienced person in the field he expecifically tells you all of what is likely to go through a child mind when facing the reality of their parents’ divorce. Since he is well rounded on the topic he has also expressed...
Words: 343 - Pages: 2
...Janet Valenzuela 11/14/12 Mrs. Mcnair ENG 102 Cause/Effect Essay Divorce Causes and Effects Success in marriage does not come through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate. From the past to present, people all over the world have been determined to live together, which is called “getting married” in another word, so that they depend on each other for living. Some couples are unable to maintain their relationship that is why they choose divorce. There are many reasons that cause divorce but, the three main causes of divorce: would be infidelity, financial issues, and lack of communication between couples. Divorce not only has a lot of complicated causes, but also has many effects. Consequently, divorces can directly effect on children. The strongest reason that causes divorce is infidelity. This may be the most damaging thing that can happen to a marriage. The cause of infidelity is rather dissatisfaction with the lack of intimacy between couples. For example, it’s widely reported that 60 % of men and 40 % of women will participate in an extramarital affair at some point during their married life. (Meyer, Cathy Paragraph 1) This shows that married couple who have lack of intimacy would be in a higher risk of infidelity in between couples no matter if you’re the girl or the guy. In addition, infidelity will also be intimacy is the bond that links two individuals together emotionally, sexually and spiritually. For instance, this bond can be affected if...
Words: 288 - Pages: 2
...Divorce or dissolution of marriage is a legal process in which a judge or other authority dissolves the bonds of matrimony existing between two persons, thus restoring them to the marital status of being single. A divorce does not declare a marriage null and void, as in an annulment, but rather declares that a fully consummated marriage is irretrievably broken and that it should be dissolved, allowing the parties to marry other individuals. Divorce laws vary considerably around the world. Divorce is not permitted in some countries, such as in Malta and in the Philippines, though an annulment is permitted. The legal process for divorce may also involve issues of spousal support, child custody, child support, distribution of property and division of debt, though these matters are usually only ancillary or consequential to the dissolution of the marriage. In some jurisdictions divorce does not require a party to claim fault of their partner that leads to the breakdown of marriage. But even in jurisdictions which have adopted the "no fault" principle in divorce proceedings, a court may still take into account the behaviour of the parties when dividing property, debts, evaluating custody, and support. In most jurisdictions, a divorce must be certified by a court of law to become effective. The terms of the divorce are usually determined by the court, though they may take into account prenuptial agreements or postnuptial agreements, or simply ratify terms that the spouses may have...
Words: 3477 - Pages: 14
...Divorce I will start out by explaining the definition of divorce. A divorce is a legal action between married people to terminate their marriage relationship. It can be referred to as dissolution of marriage and is basically, the legal action that ends the marriage before the death of either spouse (Meyer, nd). One might say, what causes couples to decide to get a divorce? There are many reasons for divorce. I believe that most marriages end when a man and a woman decide to get married they do not realize all the stresses of life that come with being married. They get married thinking all will be great when in reality there is always something that could go wrong. Couples argue about things like money, bills, work, and children. Sometimes there may be more severe cases such as one or the other spouse finds someone else and that can lead to adultery. Adultery is one of the many causes of divorce, but despite what people may say very few marriages end because of infidelity. Most divorces occur in the first two to five years of marriage, and are mostly asked for by the women. In some cases it can be a mutual decision to get a divorce. The wife may retain the husband's name, although in most cases she may choose to go back to her maiden name. No one likes the idea of divorce, but it seems to be a more common issue among many couples in today’s society. Divorce is quite costly and can be a very difficult process. When children are involved in a marriage it is usually harder than...
Words: 763 - Pages: 4
...Divorce and Children According to the study that was done in 2004 "In the United States, between 43% and 50% of first marriages end in divorce"(U.S Census Bureau qtd inLansford 140). One can assume that many children will experience some affects caused by divorce. There is evidence to support that children would be better off if the parents stayed married and there is equal supporting evidence that it would be better off if they divorced. A survey done in 2009 by 1000 teenagers "When asked what the teens wanted their parents to know they said that divorce "hurts," "sucks" and that they "don’t want to be blamed for it" or caught in the middle"(GordonPoll Youth Survey qtd inJolivet 175). There are three main areas that impact children's experience with divorce such as behavioral, psychological, and social issues. Children are effected by divorce in many ways which cause their behavior to not be normal. When children go through a traumatic event, such as losing a parent to divorce, they want to act out because they are hurt, and do not know what to do with their emotions. An article written by Ahron Constance states "…..divorce prevents certain risks, is an emotionally stressful and complex transition for families, and continues to affect children into adulthood" (55). Divorce is a hard thing for children to learn how to cope with. Children of different ages rebel in different ways; they do this because at different age levels they cannot comprehend certain things and are...
Words: 2235 - Pages: 9
...Effects of Divorce for Children Linda G. Chelette Riverside City College Ear 20 Tuesday (6:00pm-9:10pm) Tanya Gonzalez September 30, 2014 Research has shown effects on divorce for children have many pros and cons. Some cons are psychological problems, anxiety, lower self-esteem, and depression. Academic performance is also an aspect that affects a child as well as having a healthy relationship. Children from divorced parents also develop conduct problems as well as conflict in sexual activity. Pros would be controlling hostile conflict, improving child and parent relationship as well as improving the quality of parenting. Many experts may agree to disagree on the effects of divorce for children. Studies have shown children with divorce parents have higher anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. This effect’s more females with divorced parents compared to females with intact families. As for male’s it affects them in different ways they become hopeless and discouraged. The depression carries on to adulthood effecting children with low self-esteem, this effect’s personal relationships with friendship as well as the opposite sex. (Portnoy, 2008) Academic performance also affects children with divorced parents; lower test scores will also exhibit lower educational aspirations. Children are likely to drop out of school and achieve lower levels of education. Which eventually effects lower adult occupational status in the long run can lead to school dropouts. Children...
Words: 1065 - Pages: 5
...he was only three years old. Even to this day he still lives with the effects of it. Divorce is a horrible thing and it is really hard on anyone that is involved. The stress of modern living makes a long list of causes for a divorce and the effects from a divorce are never ending. The most common causes for a divorce are bad communication, cheating, financial problems, sex, and addictions. My husband's parents got divorced because they were no longer happy and fought all the time. Each parent has different reasons for their divorce, but I personally think that they got married young and they were growing into two different people. I know that financial problems and the stress of having two young children did not help with their marriage problems. I think there were a lot of causes behind their divorce and the last fight was just the straw that broke the camels back. Most three year olds can't remember what happened a month ago much less remember something twenty years later, but my husband remembers the fight that led his parents to divorce like it was yesterday and he was only three. I think it mentally affected my husband. He tries to avoid the topic of his parents divorce and he just holds it all in instead of talking about it. It was really hard on him not seeing his dad as much and always having one parent talk bad about the other parent. He always says that he will never get a divorce and put his children through the pain that he went through. Now that he is older he...
Words: 586 - Pages: 3
...he was only three years old. Even to this day he still lives with the effects of it. Divorce is a horrible thing and it is really hard on anyone that is involved. The stress of modern living makes a long list of causes for a divorce and the effects from a divorce are never ending. The most common causes for a divorce are bad communication, cheating, financial problems, sex, and addictions. My husband's parents got divorced because they were no longer happy and fought all the time. Each parent has different reasons for their divorce, but I personally think that they got married young and they were growing into two different people. I know that financial problems and the stress of having two young children did not help with their marriage problems. I think there were a lot of causes behind their divorce and the last fight was just the straw that broke the camels back. Most three year olds can't remember what happened a month ago much less remember something twenty years later, but my husband remembers the fight that led his parents to divorce like it was yesterday and he was only three. I think it mentally affected my husband. He tries to avoid the topic of his parents divorce and he just holds it all in instead of talking about it. It was really hard on him not seeing his dad as much and always having one parent talk bad about the other parent. He always says that he will never get a divorce and put his children through the pain that he went through. Now that he is older he does...
Words: 586 - Pages: 3
