Marriage Quality and its Effects
Possibly the most complex variable associated with the current divorce rate is marriage quality. According to Finkel (2014), “The average marriage today is weaker than the average marriage of yore, in terms of both satisfaction and divorce rate, but the best marriages today are much stronger, in terms of both satisfaction and personal well-being, than the best marriages of yore.” Finkel associates this to a high marriage expectation level that has never been seen before (2014). What does this mean? When the average American ties the knot, their perceived enjoyment of matrimony may be unrealistically elevated. Consequently, the couple is destined for failure unless they accept the reality of marriage: it is not a fairytale. This mentality, as Finkel describes it, is an “all or nothing” marriage approach (2014). With people joining a unity for seemingly selfish ideals, such as raising self-esteem or personal satisfaction, couples are becoming less satisfied.