PSYC 375 Relationship Dissolution and Loss Questions and Answers

Why was there a big spike in divorce in the 70/80s? "no fault divorce" and women working What are the three biggest causes of difference? -infidelity -incompatibility -drinking/substance abuse Who is usually the one to ask for a divorce? women What is the evolutionary view in favour of monogamy? Rearing children together until they can be looked after by others, around age 3 What is the evolutionary view for divorce? Genes benefit by taking a new partner and evolved brains that habituate to love hormones. What social changes contribute to divorce? Higher expectations and changing gender roles and economic status of women What is the suffocation model of marriage? how expectations in a marriage have changed over time What are the three transitions of the suffocation model of marriage? 1. helping spouses meet their basic needs 2. intimacy and passion needs 3. autonomy and personal-growth needs Describe mount Maslow the bottom of the mountain is the most basic needs of a relationship and then higher expectations go up and up What are some consequences of mount Maslow? -Fewer marriages are able to devote the necessary attention to nurturing those higher-level needs -The best marriages are better than they have even been at any point in history Rusbult et al.'s model of commitment Satisfaction level, Quality of Alternatives, Investment size -> Commitment Level -> Persistance