Divorce Rate in a Black Community and White Community - Research Paper Example

The culture of marriage and the sometimes consequence of divorce: A study on the changes that have occurred in the last sixty years and the subsequent rate of divorce. Table of Contents Abstract 4 Chapter I 5 Introduction 5 Research Questions 6 Hypotheses 6 Identification of Variables 7 Significance of Problem 7 Operational definitions 8 Assumptions and Limitations 8 Assumptions 9 Limitations 10 Chapter II 11 Introduction 11 Review of the Literature 11 Statistics on Divorce 11 Marriage and the Law 12 The Importance of Marriage in the Unitied States 13 The Single Life 13 Love, Identity and Maturity 14 Causes of Modern Divorce 16 Summary 17 The culture 2 Chaper III 18 Introduction 18 Target Population 18 Method of sampling 18 Stimulus Materials 19 Measurement Devices 20 Data Collection Methods 20 Statistacal Methods 20 Time Schedule 21 Summary 21 Abstract The following research proposal is designed so that both quantitative and qualitative research methods can be used to find relevant statistical and experiential commonalities in order to study the phenomenon of divorce. There is a statistical proof of the decrease in the number of marriages world wide, with an increase in divorces. As well, the United States has seen the same increase in divorce over the decrease in the number of marriages per year. This research study proposes to create statistical data relevant to the perceptions of the population on the topic of divorce. In addition, interviews will allow the researcher to discover the direct causes that then may be related to known societal issues that cause divorce. New issues may also arise within the course of the study. Chapter I Introduction Introduction The state of the American marriage is in a tremendous amount of turmoil. With the recent controversies over the definition of marriage and how a legal bond will be condoned by the state, it is important to identify the causes for the dissolution of marriages in a changing culture. Marriage is considered very important in the varying cultures of the United States. Our culture, both in the way we devise our communities to the way we legislate, is centered around the support of the family. Observable declines, however, have suggested that though society still values marriage, people are less likely to marry and are more likely to divorce after marriage. This study intends to determine the cultural shift that has taken place that supports the deterioration of marriage as a necessity and the rise in the number of divorces, signifying that these bond no longer meet the needs of those involved anymore. The most recent statistics show that there are less marriages taking place in an average year, while the number of divorces has increased. According to the 2006 statistical records, the most recent statistics compiled by the OEDC (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development)(2009), globally there was an average of 5.1 marriages per 1000 people which is roughly a third of the number of marriages that were held in 1970. Furthermore, there was a 2.3 rate of divorce per 1000 people which is twice the number recorded for 1970. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) (2010), the current rates for the United States are higher than the global average. For every 1000 people there are 7.1 marriages with 3.5 divorces for 2008. The culture 6 This study will pull data together in order to paint a picture of the current status of divorce and the culture in which divorce takes place. Through a questionnaire that intends to use the quantitative approach to show statistical calculations through SWOT analysis, and through qualitative research that creates case studies that can be analyzed for commonalities, a comprehensive study on the culture of marriage and the consequence of divorce will paint a picture of that phenomenon. Research questions 1. What are the statistical changes that have occurred from the divorce rates and causes in 1950 to the divorce rates of 2010? 2. What is the ratio of divorces per marriage in 1950 compared to 2010? 3. What were to causes of divorce in 1950 and how do they compare to the causes in 2010? 4. Which causes remain the same and which show an emergent pattern of causality? 5. How is the culture of marriage different in 2010 than it was in 1950? Hypotheses Null Hypothesis There is a statistical difference in the divorce rate from 1950 to 2010 due to a change in the culture of marriage. Alternative Hypothesis: There is no statistical difference in the divorce rate from 1950 to 2010 due to a change in the culture of marriage. Identification of Variables The number of variables that will need to be addressed are numerable. As a start, the The culture 7 current age, age of marriage, and age of divorce will be relevant to the study. As well, the number of years the marriage lasted will have an impact on the link to the cause of the divorce for each couple. No two relationships are exactly the same, therefore, creating somewhat of a cursory understanding of the way in which a couple relates will allow for that couple to have more conclusive experiences to contribute to the study. The number of children involved in each case study will have impact on the way in which the divorce became the result of the marriage. The socio-economic background, ethnicity, cultural expectations and norms in regard to their social world, and the expectations of marriage, compared to its reality will all have impact on the way in which the case studies can be considered for the experiences that are related to the researcher. Significance of Problem A study on the cultural changes in the institution of marriage within the last sixty years will help to determine the root causes of the majority of divorces. In creating an understanding of those root causes, solutions to problems that might arise before or during the marriage may be better understood in order to find a way to avoid divorce and the consequences of divorce. In recognizing an evolution of the cultural institution of marriage, couples can begin to understand that how their mothers and fathers may have defined themselves is not necessarily realistic in regard to how the culture has shifted. In order to adapt to those changes, a focused interpretation of the current culture and the expectations that are attached to that culture must be found so that a contemporary couple will maintain their bond. In a study that examines the changes in marriage and divorce rates in the last sixty years as they are relevant to the context of the time period, the aspects of the experiences of those who went through a divorce must be examined. It is important to come to an understanding of those The culture 8 experiences in order to understand how divorce became an answer to a problem that dissolved the bond that first inspired a couple to wed. By using qualitative methodologies, an understanding of divorce can be combined with statistical relevance that is discovered through qualitative means. Operational definitions Couple: Because the majority of the United States still lives with the antiquated notion that marriage may only happen between a male and a female of the species, for the purpose of this study we will limit the definition of “couple” to that consisting of a a male and a female who have legally bound themselves through the covenant of marriage. Since divorce must be predicated by marriage, it is without merit to study divorce rates that include homosexual couples since the legality is limited both in time and in scope (Yalom 2002). Culture: In order to understand the concept of culture, a quote from anthropologist and linguist Sapir (1924) from Poyatos (2002) is most relevant. He is quotes as saying that culture is “ any socially inherited element in the life of man, material and spiritual….coterminous with man himself” (p. 1). In conjunction with this definition, we will define it to mean the socially inherited elements that create a group of people with a common experience. In the case of this study, the culture of marriage will be the traditions and experiences that create the state of marriage, and then consequently the state of divorce. Divorced: A description of a status in which a person who was once married has gone through the legal procedures that dissolve the legal bond of marriage. The culture 9 Marital Status: The state in which a person defines themselves in regard to marriage, according to any legal covenant or dissolution of that covenant. Marriage: For the purposes of this study, marriage will be defined according to the traditions and standards that allow for a legal bond between a man and a woman. Since a divorce is a legal procedure, it must be predicated by a legal marriage in order to qualify for this study. Assumptions and Limitations Assumptions These assumptions will create a basic foundation for the research of this study. 1. The participants of the study will have a an intent to be truthful in their responses to the questions both on the questionnaire and on for the interview process. 2. The secondary research represents a credible basis upon which the study is founded. 3. The observed behaviors of the participants will create a sense of truth about the couple as they are observed and interviewed. Limitations These limitations might have a potential to affect the study. 1. The culture of a single family is as singular as the culture of an entire society, therefore the elements of the relationship within the marriage may not be clear to the participants as relevant, therefore may not be revealed. 2. Because the media is influential in almost every sub-culture in the United States, the couple will be subject to preconceived ideas that are driven by media constructs rather than The culture 10 reality. 3. Because the study is limited to heterosexual relationships, a wider scope of the overall nature of relationships within the United States will not be represented. Only couples who were previously in legally bound unions of marriage will be represented. In this changing world where the concept of marriage may rapidly change by definition, this study may become less relevant very quickly. The culture 11 Chapter II Literature Review Introduction The search for secondary research for this study allowed for an overview of the topic of divorce and the related subject of relationships. The statistics that are compiled by pubic organizations show that marriage is on a slow, but steady decline, while divorce is on oppositional incline. It is clear, however, that marriage is an important part of the culture within the United States and efforts on both a legal and a societal level are made in order to promote the institution. It is also clear that an appreciation for life without marriage is steadily being accepted, thus promoting social and cultural changes in the way that marriage is approached. It is an important aspect of understanding the phenomenon of divorce to understand the way in which the personal identity is associated with marriage and relationships. In the following chapter a research of relevant literature will allow for a foundation for the research of the study. Looking at the research of others allows for furthering what is already known, rather than re-discovering what has been discovered. The following research will cover the foundational concepts of this study and provide a basis for the assumptions that must be made in order to conduct the work. Reveiw of selected Literature Statistics on Divorce The last statistics compiled by the CDC (2002) in reference to the average ages of first marriages were conducted in 2002. According to these statistics, over 70% of men and women between the ages of 24 and 44 have been married. Men are have a likelihood of being married by The culture 12 the age 40 of 81 %, while women have an 86% likelihood of being married. More women than men have been married by the age of 35. The overall statistics show women as being more often married than men. The decline of marriage in the later half of the 20th century has set off some alarms concerning the overall well-being of society. According to the CDC (2002), people who are married are more likely to have greater physical, emotional, and economic well-being than do unmarried people. As well, children of families with two parents have a greater rate of success and higher levels of achievement than do children in homes where the parents are not together. Marriage and the Law Within the United States the importance of marriage is reflected in the way we structure our laws and the way we structure our culture. During a 19th century Supreme Court Ruling, the status of marriage was defined with the statement “ Upon it society may be said to be built, and out of its fruits spring social relations and social obligations and duties, with which government is necessarily required to deal “ (Reynolds v. United States), (Nolan & Wardle, 2005, p. 56). In Murphy v Ramsey and in Maynard v Hill, the Supreme Court continue to acknowledge its obligation to legally support the family and to promote the solid family unit and its welfare. It was made clear that in order to promote a more prosperous nation, it was the obligation of the courts to legislate structures in which the family could thrive (Nolan & Wardle, 2005, p. 56). The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, signed by President George W. Bush included 150 million dollars to be used from the year 2006 until 2010 for the purpose of research and education on the topic of responsible fatherhood, with an intent to promote healthy marriage in areas that are heavily burdened with economic struggle (Loveless & Holman, 2006, p. 338). The The culture 13 intention of these funds was not only to reach fathers, but to provide for community organizations so that they could provide outreach for troubled families and counseling toward creating stronger bonds of marriage. As well, since 2002 marriage education programs have been integrated into the social services The Importance of Marriage in the Unitied States There is a considerable importance put upon the traditions of marriage within the United States. As a result, there are many theories to support the causes of the rise in divorce, counterbalanced by the decline in marriages per year. One of those theories centers on the changing role of men within the family structure. As the increases in laws to support the equality of opportunities for men and women have increased the independence that women have economically, the male influence has decreased in importance. According to Gavanas (2004), men are increasingly devalued and the family de-centered on the male, thus diminishing his perceived importance in the family (p. 45). As survival shifted from the needs of the male to hunt and protect, to the needs of the male to then take a position in the industrial world, that role has now become less centered only on the male, but on the female as well. Therefore, the males essential role as protector has shifted and men are increasingly having to find their place in the world balancing new realities against antiquated expectations. The Single Life Although there is an acknowledged importance of marriage within the United States, there has also been an incline of statistics supporting the idea of staying single and being able to live a content life since the 1970’s. According to Thornton, Axinn, & Xie (2007), there was a huge boom of marriages in the 1950’s and 1960’s, followed by a continuing decline since that The culture 14 time with increases in the perception of single life as a valued life (p. 55). The context of the meaning of marriage has altered in the statement that it makes about adulthood. People are no longer defined by their marital status as adults, but by their other accomplishments. The definitions of femininity and masculinity do not come from having successfully attained a partner in life. Between 1957 and 1976, the perception of being able to live a content life without marriage rose from 10% to 15% (Thornton, Axinn, & Xie, 2007, p.56). While the topic has seen some success in popular literature and media, the concept still remains stigmatized. The support for the single life seems to be more of a support group, than an actual declaration of a better way of life. However, the single life is so well played in the media that it sometimes clouds the issues of a marriage as a “greener pasture” scenario. According to Stewart (2005), there are over 105 million single adults living in the United States. Being married is encouraged by our culture, but being single is being more acceptable as a viable marital state as an adult. Love, Identity and Maturity In a discussion about the effects of relationships on the individual’s self-discrepancy, which is defined as the difference between the actual self, or the current self-representation and the ideal self which is defined by the a person’s hopes and aspirations of what they will become, the subject of what happens to that self-discrepancy after divorce is highlighted in work done by Green, Campbell, and Davis (2007) when the used Freud’s concepts of the ego-ideal in order to note that the object of love often suffers from a projected concept of the ideal. They define one of three outcomes to this scenario: 1. it reduces the discrepancy between the perceiver’s ego and ego-ideal to the love object, The culture 15 2. it causes the perceiver to idealize the target of affection and; 3. it causes the perceiver to experience an affective state of mania or joy coupled with the idealization of the partner. The self esteem is elevated from this perceived idealism and the resulting satisfaction. However, when the truth does not match the reality of the identity of the one with whom another is in love with, this collides directly with the ego - ideal and sets up a stage of dissatisfaction. In a study done by C. Leone and L. B. Hawkins (2006), the dynamics of relationships are examined for differences associated with high self-monitors as compared to low-self monitors. An individual who is defined as a high self-monitor create their sense of identity from social interactions and how they define their roles in differing social settings. A low-self monitor is one who defines themselves through their own personal dispositions and they way that creates an impact on social interactions. A low self-monitor will need a social world that is like themselves rather than adapting to various worlds. A low self-monitor will create a bond of trust with their partner assuming and believing that the bond is secure and without the need of attention or further intimacies than they have already offered. A high self-monitor can adapt and be flexible, allowing his or her roles within a relationship to change, thus eliminating role conflict. However, this individual suffers from less security and feels the need to prove themselves more frequently, thus never achieving the psychological intimacy that a low self-monitor is capable of achieving because they always feel their relationships depend on their next role. Self-actualization is a developmental mile stone that is closely associated with the ability to develop an intimate relationship. According to Brewer and Hewstone (2004), self-actualization is closely associated with self-acceptance an is not defined by self-love. Self-actualization is a The culture 16 component of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and as such suggests that it is at a higher level than most other needs, therefore is not developed until a sense of the lower level needs is fulfilled. In regard to Maslow, Brewer and Hewstone (2004) suggest that it is clear that the need to be loved far outweighs the need to give love (p. 44). This suggests that the concept that self-love must supercede falling in love is not valid. Therefore, a relationship does not always stem from a matured state where self-love through self-actualization has been attained, but rather, from the fulfillment of a basic need to be loved having no relationship to the need to extend love outward. Causes of Modern Divorce Divorce laws are predicated on the Judeo-Christian understanding of divorce. Jewish law originally considered women chattel and only allowed divorce when a husband decided he was tired of his wife (Hyacinthe, 2009, p. 13). It is Martin Luther, however, who is considered the ’father of modern divorce’ as he came out as for the practice and the Puritans turned the concept of divorce over to their civil authorities as opposed to their clerics (Rose, 2009, p. 50). Divorce has been considered within most cultures who embraced marriage, however the rights of women were not always, and are still not always considered in the question of dissolving a marriage. While many personal reasons exist for the failure of a marriage, there is a prolific number of reasons that point to social causes. Before the industrial revolutions, the reasons for marriage were based on economic foundations of survival. The key change has been the diminishment of marriage as a means to procreation for the greater good of society to a state of compassionate functions, and now to the interpersonal relationships that satisfy the psychological needs of each individual in the relationship (Mooney, Knox, & Schacht, 2009, p. 191). When those needs aren’t met, divorce may occur. The culture 17 The self-sufficiency of women has also increased the divorce rate. As economic needs are no longer primary to the function of a couple, the need to work together to survive no longer prevents changes in the marital status. According to Mooney, Knox, and Schacht (2009), women now seek out egalitarian relationships. When a husband tries to assert an authority over a woman, this might lead to an eventual divorce (p. 191). In the search for a new identity in the industrialized world with more equal opportunities in the work place for women, it is difficult for a man to find his identity when much of his conditioning is based on antiquated ideas. According to Price, Price and McHenry (2009), identifying risk factors is far easier than identifying causes of divorce. However, it is common for people who are going through a divorce create for themselves a public account for what led to the action in order to allay blame. Therefore, the causes of the divorce may appear to be very clear, while the truth of it may be like any other truth within a relationship. Truths within relationships are sometimes clouded by perceptions and appearances rather than actualities (p. 216). Summary While there are very specific social causes for divorce, there are an infinite number of interpersonal causes. Relating the personal cause to the social cause is relevant to creating an overall understanding of the causes and current rise in the divorce rate. The culture has changed dramatically since the industrial revolution, shifting the purpose of marriage from a socio-economic institution to a personal satisfaction institution. As the identity and roles of men and women have changed dramatically, the cultural expectations have changed at a slower rate. Therefore, the initial struggle between a man and a woman is defined by social expectations that must be navigated and reconciled. This study will analyze how this failed. The culture 18 Chaper III Methodology Introduction The intention of this study is to create an understanding of the causes of divorce within the United States. In a country that considers marriage and family to be a high priority, socially responsible in furthering the nations population and supporting the values of its communities, the nation is suffering from a slow, but steady decrease in marriages per year with a slow, but steady increase in divorces. The following methodology will provide for both a qualitative and a quantitative look at the nature of divorce within the marriage culture. Using both a survey and a set of case studies will allow a statistical analysis of the issue, along with a case study approach to the phenomenon of divorce. Target Population Two types of populations will be targeted in order to develop this research. The first set of participants will be found at a random location where a survey will be made of passersby. The purpose of this survey will be to determine attitudes and thoughts that are in relationship to the research questions. The second set of participants will be selected for their experience of having gone through the experience of a divorce that will result in interviews that will be conducted and then correlated into case studies. Method of sampling Sampling is defined by taking a cross section of a targeted population in order to find adequate participants to answer questions raised in a research study that will lead to determinations made when the data is analyzed. There are two common types of sampling that The culture 19 are most often used. The first is probability sampling and the second is non-probability sampling. In creating a participant group from the population, a research will create a representative selection of the population in order to determine whether responses are more than or less than likely true. According to Trochim (2006), probability sampling is done when a random sample of the population is taken by the researcher. “In order to have a random selection method, you must set up some process or procedure that assures that the different units in your population have equal probabilities of being chosen“(Trochim 2006). However, it is not actually possible to take a random sample of the population, but researchers who use this method often do their best to create a sample that is as close to equal as is possible by diminishing the number of biases that might influence the participants, rendering them not equal, but biased. The process of non-probability sampling is done when a specific place or time must exist for the sampling to take place. The concept can be divided by accidental or purposive types of sampling. Accidental sampling is done when a person goes to a certain place and asks random passersby to participate in their survey. Purposive sampling is done when a specific group is targeted for associated relevance to the survey (Trochim, 2006). Both of these non-probability sampling methods will be engaged in order to complete this research. Stimulus Materials In addition to the survey, a set of five pictures that show various family and marital settings will be used in order to conduct a response to visual cues. The visual cues will allow a concept of how family and marriage is viewed by the general population may or may not have changed since the 1950’s. During the interviews, the participants will be asked to bring in The culture 20 pictures they feel are relevant to a discussion about their divorce. Observing the reactions of the participants to showing and looking at those pictures will help the researcher to define the experience that the participants are sharing. Measurement Devices Two methods of analysis will be used in order to create the data sets for this study. The first sets of data will be put through SWOT analysis in order to create statistical relevance for the questions on the survey materials. The second sets of data will be done through analysis of the interviews of divorced couples and developed through a system of creating commonalities between the case studies. These two methods of research will then be combined in order to reach conclusions that are relevant to the research questions. Data Collection Methods In order to collect the survey results, the researcher will go to a chosen location and randomly ask 100 people to help answer the questions on the questionnaire. The intentions of the questions will be to define answers for the basic concepts of the research questions in order to collect data that will provide specific statistical probabilities for the perceptions of the general population on issues that concern divorce. The participants of the second part of the research will be found through the placement of ads in free online ad services such as Craig’s List and through listings on University boards and local eateries and supermarkets that have bulletin boards available for advertisements. A participant list will consist of ten to fifteen people interested in talking about their divorce in an interview process. Statistical Methods The culture 21 The statistics for the quantitative portion of the study will be found through the use of a SWOT program. The information gathered will be used to create statistical relevancies to the research questions. The case studies will be broken down for common types of responses and put into a grid so that the responses can be analyzed for similarities that can help in answering the research questions. Time Schedule The full process of doing the research will most likely take 30 days. The survey will take two days to administer to the general population. The interviews will most likely take two weeks to coordinate and accomplish, leaving a week for the compilation of case studies. The final week of the process will be spent analyzing the data and coordinating the information so that it can be used to reveal commonalities and trends in consideration of the rising divorce trend. Summary This research study is designed to use both qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to reach conclusions about the research questions. The population will be sampled both through accidental means and purposive means in order to both target the wider perceptions of the population and the specific experiences of those who have experienced divorce. The research plan will take approximately 30 days to complete. The data will be analyzed and correlated for relevant information that will answer the research questions that are designed for the study. The culture 22 References Brewer, M. B., & Hewstone, M. (2004). Self and social identity: Perspectives on social psychology. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2002). Who Marries and When? Age at First Marriage in the United States: 2002. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.go v/nchs/data /data briefs/db19.htm Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Marriage and Divorce. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/divorce.htm Hyacinthe, R. (2009). Marriage and divorce laws of the world. New York: Bibliolife. Gavanas, A. (2004). Fatherhood politics in the United States: Masculinity, sexuality, race and marriage. Urbana [u.a.]: University of Illinois Press. http://www.loc.gov/catd ir/toc/ecip043/2003009667.html. Green, J.D., Campbell, W.K., Davis, J.L. (2007) Ghosts From the Past: An Examination of Romantic Relationships and Self-Discrepancy, The Journal of Social Psychology 147(3) 243–264. Leone, C. and Hawkins, L.B. (2006) Self-Monitoring and Close Relationships, Journal of Personality, 74 (3) 22-25. Loveless, A. S., & Holman, T. (2006). The family in the new millennium: World voices supporting the "natural" clan. Westport, Conn: Praeger. Mooney, L. A., Knox, D., & Schacht, C. (2009). Understanding social problems. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. Nolan, L. C., & Wardle, L. D. (2005). Fundamental principles of family law. Buffalo, N.Y.: W.S. Hein. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2009). Society at a glance: OECD social indicators. Paris: OECD. Poyatos, F. (2002). Nonverbal communication across disciplines 1 Culture, sensory interaction, speech, conversation. Amsterdam [u.a.]: Benjamins. Price, S. J., Price, C. A., & McKenry, P. C. (2010). Families & change: Coping with stressful events and transitions. Los Angeles: SAGE. The culture 23 Rose, H. (2009). The outside of the cup. New York: Bibliolife. Stewart, J. (2005). The single girl's manifesta: Living in a stupendously superior single state of mind. Naperville, Ill: Sourcebooks Casablanca. Thornton, A., Axinn, W. G., & Xie, Y. (2007). Marriage and cohabitation. Chicago [u.a.]: Univ. of Chicago Press. http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip0710/200 7003732.html. Trochim, W. M. K. (2006) Probability sampling. Research Methods Knowledge Base. Retrieved from http://www.socialresearchm ethods.net/kb/sampprob.php Yalom, M. (2002). Inside the American couple: New thinking, new challenges. Berkeley [u.a.]: Univ. of California Press. Read More