Divorce as a Complex Event - Essay Example

A divorce is a complex event that involves the legal dissolution of marriage by a court of law or other competent body, in which the couple is separated. Divorce has become a common concept in society today, and the rate of couples seeking divorce has risen reducing the sanctity of marriage. This has depicted marriages to be fraudulent, which has significant effects on society. When ending a marriage, compromise solutions are made with the collapsing structure of family life, which establish legally defined means of getting along and interactions.

As Per divorce statistics, it is estimated that between 40 percent and 50 percent of first marriages end in divorce in the U.S while in other countries, the divorce rate for first marriages exceeds 50% (Grazian para 1). Statistics also indicate that marriages between couples at a tender age have a higher probability of getting a divorce as opposed to couples who get married in their late twenties.

There exist numerous reasons for seeking a divorce, which are associated with the collapse of the marriage institution. One of the key reasons that contribute to failure in marriage is the lack of communication or poor communication among the couples, this depicts a situation where one feels that he/she is not appreciated, and thus resentment develops. Other reasons include marital conflicts and arguments, infidelity, age, religion, education, and income.

Education and income play a vital role in divorce statistics whereby married couples with higher education and a higher income are less likely to get divorced, as opposed to couples with lower education and lower-income levels. Different religious denominations also show different divorce rates with those having no religious affiliations bearing a lower divorce rate.

Society has experienced degradation from the overspill of events among the ever-increasing number of divorced couples. This experience ranges from the moral degradation of their children to the tainting of the marriage institution. The effects of divorce can be felt in the society's family life, in terms of income potential, crime, and drug abuse, which takes a toll on their physical and emotional health. Increased divorce rates in society raise tension and anxiety among married couples, who fear ending up like their divorced friends.

In addition, the strain accrued from divorce proceedings takes their toll on the parties involved as well as their children. This has seen an increase in the rate of drug abuse and alcoholism in an attempt to alleviate the strain.

Divorce proceeding decreases the income levels of a household, thus diminishing their potential to generate and accumulate wealth. There has been a drop in income in households undergoing a divorce, which not only affects the children being raised in the household but also the economic productivity potential of a nation, which is a negative effect on society. With the divorce rate being at an all-time high, society ought to be involved in the preservation of the marriage institution. The restoration of the importance of marriage to society should involve all parties, as well as a commitment of resources to pro-marriage programs.

Among the most common, reported reasons for divorce, alcohol and drug abuse are prime contributors to the deteriorating state of matters between couples (Amato and Previti 614 para 3). Alcohol-induced behaviors tend to dissolve social skills by creating a hostile or disapproving attitude towards everyone. Such behaviors may lead to infidelity, poor communication and may inflict emotional trauma to one’s partner. The alcohol-induced behaviors may lead to insensitivity towards one’s partner, which alters communication skills and illustrates hostility. Poor communication skills among couples become a significant reason to seek dissolution of marriage, in which couples grow apart and initial attraction is lost.

Children whose parents are divorced elicit signs of neglect and suffer the brunt of the separation. They frequently demonstrate a diminished learning capacity, perform poorly as compared to their peers, and have a higher dropout rate and lower rates of college graduation (Fagan and Rector 1 para 2). The lives of such children are marred with poverty, with some resulting in activities such as prostitution to cater to their basic needs.

The children exhibit a wide range of behavioral as well as emotional problems and are frequently associated with drug abuse, crimes, and a higher rate of suicide. The children may show antisocial behavior with low self-esteem and delinquency in a bid to demonstrate their frustration in the wake of a divorce (Rahimi et al., 4640 paras 6). Some children develop aggression and reduced desires to marry other people. Sons may develop homosexual tendencies in an effort to achieve self-reliance.

Divorce weakens the relationship between a child and the parent, and thus without proper moral guidance, they lead a more destructive way of life. Children who have been affected by divorce also demonstrate an early involvement in sexual activity, cohabitation, and loss in the desire to have children, in this regard; higher divorce rates are expected in the future.