Unhappy Marriage -Alternatives To Divorce

Paper Summary:

This paper asserts that unhappy marriages do not always justify divorce. The elaborates on this assertion, stating that divorce is not always necessary for every unhappy marriage and that happy marriages that are healthy but unhappy for superficial reasons are often capable of salvation as long as both partners are equally motivated to make the necessary changes. The paper then points out, however, that, conversely, divorce is more advisable where either partner is not willing to make the changes necessary to improve the marriage, and especially, where partners chose each other in the first place for dysfunctional reasons, or progressed to marriage immaturely. The paper then discusses the differences between salvageable and unsalvageable marriages.


Outline
Salvageable vs. Unsolvable Marriages
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In general principle, some marriages are potentially salvageable because even though they may have evolved into unhappiness, they did so by virtue of relatively superficial reasons. Conversely, other marriages are completely impossible to improve, because the factors accounting for their evolution into unhappiness are not superficial, but rather, due to fundamental incompatibilities between the partners (Kasl 1998). Sometimes, in fact, marriages whose unhappiness was originally caused by relatively superficial reasons generate so much conflict and perpetual resentment that it is simply impossible ever to rekindle the mutual feelings of romantic love and genuine affection that are prerequisites to happiness in marriage."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bradshaw, J. (1992) Bradshaw On: The Family. Deerfield Beach: Health Communications, Inc.
• Bradshaw, J. (1999) Creating Love: The Next Great Stage of Growth. New York: Bantam.
• Branden, N. (1999) The Psychology of Romantic Love. New York: Bantam.
• DeAngelis, B. (1995) Are You the One for Me? Knowing Who's Right & Avoiding Who's Wrong. New York: Delacorte Press.
• Hendricks, G, Hendricks, K. (1990) Conscious Loving: The Journey to Co-Commitment. New York: Bantam.

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