Adult Years

Functions of marriage for society

• Inheritance rights• Structured economic partnership• Regulating sexual behavior• Childrearing

Cohabitation

• When cohabitating couples marry, they have a greater risk of divorce than those couples who did not cohabitate.

• Many believe long term commitment not necessary for living arrangement

• Not a substitute for marriage

Marital satisfaction

• Satisfied couples have Closeness Individual independence

The Prophet

• Couples who have a good marriage believe the marriage enhances themselves as individuals.

Gottman’s research predicting marital

dissatisfaction• Facial expressions of disgust or fear• Defensiveness• Expressions of contempt

Gottman’s best predictor of marital satisfaction

• Moments of support, kindness, passion & mutual pleasure far outweigh moments of disgust, criticism, defensiveness and anger

Sexual satisfaction within marriage

• Frequency• Mutuality in initiating sex• Frequency for orgasm among women• Compared with Kinsey’s research

Men and women now have a wider repertoire of sexual behavior

Extramarital sex (nonconsensual)

• Reasons for: Wanting to expand emotionally or sexually Unavailability of sex within the marriage Way to begin ending a marriage

• Other factors Symptom of a disintegrating marriage May cause marital breakups Other serious consequences for both

participant and spouse

Divorce

• Increasing due to Reduction in social stigma attached to

divorce Increased economic independence of

women Liberalization of divorce laws

• Emotional impact Similar to a death of a spouse

Most frequently cited reason for divorce

• For men = Communication difficulties

• For women = communication difficulties

High divorce rates with second marriages related

to• Less willingness to stick around when

things get rough

Factors influencing sexual activity in later years

• Need for affection and sexual intimacy continues into older years

• Physical health Medications

In elderly may effect sexual desire and function

• Regularity of sexual expression• Sexual activity levels in early

adulthood

Aging and hormone Replacement therapy

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