Discussion Prompt: Marriage
Most marriages in the United States are “love marriages,” in which the couple reports high levels of romantic love prior to being married. However, the divorce rate in the United States is about 50% for first marriages and even higher for second and third marriages. In addition, marital satisfaction falls quickly for all couples. Interestingly, the divorce rate for arranged marriages is very low and marital satisfaction remains high for these couples over long periods. Consider why these differences might exist between love marriages and arranged marriages. Some topics to consider are: cultural differences in social norms between the United Sates and other countries where arranged marriages are prevalent; differences in divorce laws; the role of cognitive dissonance and inadequate justification; and Sternberg’s theory of love. Given the relative success of arranged marriages, would you consider this option? At what age might you consider this option?