Divorce Warm-up: You have probably known someone who has gone through a divorce

Factors shown to increase risk include, but are not limited to…

• problems relating to friends and family (Kurdek, 1991; Fowers et al., 1996),
• low or differing levels of education (Bumpass et al., 1991)…
• …and, having dissimilar attitudes (Kurdek, 1993; Larsen & Olson, 1989). (from Clements, Stanley, & Markman, 1997)

Factors Leading to Divorce

• Most factors can be traced to selfishness.
• It could be selfishness with time, money, work, caring and communication.
• Other factors of divorce may be changing value systems, physical and emotional abuse, religious differences or alcohol/substance abuse.

Dr. Medved lists the major arguments against divorce

• Divorce hurts you.
• Divorce hurts those around you.
• Single life is not what it is cracked up to be.
• Staying married is better for you.

More Personal Problems Associated With Divorce.

• Divorced people have more illness, more premature deaths, higher suicide rates and more accidents than those who are married.
• When we divorce we learn to doubt that any relationship can be permanent.
• Children fear that they caused the divorce and they feel rejected and alone.

The “Social Re-adjustment Rating Scale”

This lists the events most shattering to one’s equilibrium

The scale shows marital separation and divorce as the 2nd and 3rd most stressful situation (after death of a spouse) that anyone can experience.

Effects of Divorce on the Couple

No one ever escapes from a divorce unscathed.

Hopes and dreams are replaced with…

• Feelings of rejection & insecurity
• Lower self-concept
• Fear (about the future, $, relationships, their children, etc….)