Income Discrepancy as a Driving Factor for Divorce

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The majority of the people on this earth choose to believe once they find their soul mate, they will be able to share a long and happy marriage, “until death do [they] part.” This belief amounts to only a simple myth, as more and more couples file for divorce each year. It is ironic how a man can find the love of his life, his source of the ultimate currency, but is forced to a dead end due to external struggles. In Happier, author Ben-Shahar discusses “the mistaken notion that finding love guarantees eternal bliss leads partners to neglect the journey – the day-to-day issues, activities, and events that shape the relationship” (Ben-Shahar, 121). There are many external factors that can be harmful to a marriage if the couple does not know how to progress, such as children, distance, and cultural values. This paper is going to explore how a difference in income can cause dissatisfaction and eventually, loss of love in a heterosexual marriage in American society. I am also going to explore whether the amount of total income (rich, average, or poor) can increase the odds for divorce.

Ben-Shahar’s Happier is a self-help book that aims to aid people in the realization of meaning in their lives and strive for happiness as the ultimate currency. In his book, Ben-Shahar states, “money – beyond the bare minimum necessary for food and shelter – is nothing more than a means to an end” (Ben-Shahar, 55). Although, according to Ben-Shahar, there is no strong correlation between money and happiness, there have been other studies conducted that argue otherwise. Leonardo Becchetti, who is a noted professor of Economics at the University of Rome, did research on the relationship between money and happiness in his written article, “Income, Relatio...

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...rint.5 Jul. 2011.

Birchler, Gary R. and Linda J. Webb. "Discriminating Interaction Behaviors in

Happy and Unhappy Marriages." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 45.3 (1975): 494-495. Web. 20 Jul. 2011. MedLine. http://ft.csa.com/ids70/resolver.php?sessid=koaaeem8a5g0a1dr2he5hvaq23&server=csaweb108v.csa.com&check=67d57e3b2e794b80513e107e5eb0fe74&db=psycarticles-set-c&key=CCP%2F45%2Fccp_45_3_494&mode=pdf

Kenney, Catherine T.. "The Power of the Purse: Allocative Systems and

Inequality in Couple Households." Sage Publications 20.3 (2006): 354-381. Web. 17 Jul. 2011. ArticleFirst.http://gas.sagepub.com/content/20/3/354.full.pdf+html

Marini, Margaret M.. "Dimensions of Marriage Happiness." Journal of Marriage

and Family 38.3 (1976): 443-448. Web. 20 Jul. 2011. JSTOR. http://www.jstor.org/openurl?volume=38&date=1976&spage=443&issn=00222445&issue=3

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