Divorce Is Contagious?
CNNported, a study to explain, that apparently proved divorce can be contagious to people who are in the scope of social networking. This conclusion is based on the theory of social contagion, or spread of attitudes or emotions through the group. In this case, the feeling of rising and people experiencing divorce action can transmit like a virus, causing others to want a divorce.
Divorce is not only the virus could spread to their friends or families of divorced couples, but can also be transmitted at least as far as two circles of friends from the first couple divorced, said James H. Fowler, professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego. So, let’s say, you are a divorced spouse, a friend of your friend, who may not know you could take such a decision.
The results of this study or the more powerful the more evident when the couple’s former deputy president of the United States, Al Gore and his partner, Tipper decided to strap their marriage after serving 40 years of marriage. Shortly thereafter, the son of Al and Tipper Gore first, Karenna Gore Schiff also announced his farewell after 13 years sailing with Andrew Schiff household.
Fowler’s research on infectious divorce did not examine whether parents’ decision to split will affect the way children relate. However, this study analyzed the effects of divorce on the sibling. Those who have siblings who have the possibility of divorce 22 percent to divorce than those who do not also have siblings who were divorced. This turned out not far from reality, that Gore was the first daughter was not the first who filed for divorce against her partner. Gore’s second child, Kristin has filed for divorce against her husband, Paul Cusack since a year ago.
According to Fowler’s research, friendship has a greater effect than the influence of siblings when it comes to divorce. According to Fowler’s study, if someone has a friend who got divorced, would likely have 147 per cent to also divorce from her partner than those who do not have friends who are divorced.
Meanwhile, if there are colleagues who divorced her coworkers even the possibility of divorce will automatically increase as much as 55 percent rather than those who do not have a divorced partner.
Those who already have children exposed to the virus content of this possibility are reduced.
In addition, this study found no influence divorce friendship ties, for example, a divorced couple who complained to his friend. This friend does not decide to divorce, but then told to her other friends, that third person could be influenced to follow the path of divorce.
There are several reasons why the divorce creates a ripple effect on social networks. That said, people began to “warm up” or start to find out and learn about the effects or the process of divorce after seeing his friends, family, or colleagues who were divorced. When a couple sees an answer to the question hovering in his mind while still inside the marriage just when they end the marriage, then the other spouse could be thinking the same thing.
However, these studies were conducted in a medium scale, about five thousand people; just take the example of the few sections of the population sample.
Jay Slupesky, a marriage counselor, said that he once saw a woman dared to break away from her partner after getting “inspiration” of his female friends who get divorced. Slupesky say that this is indeed possible. Suppose there is a wife, have friends who are planning to divorce, it could make it a bit more courage to do the same thing.
Marriage therapist, Gerry Lane in Georgia was also agreed that a divorce could be contagious. He said that he saw his client plans to divorce because it triggered from the couple’s friends who were already divorced. In fact this also happens to couples who are married and happy. According to Gerry, the people around you have a considerable influence on yourself. Sometimes, this kind of thing does not only come from within the people who wanted a divorce only.
Gerry gave an example of his client, a man, a successful CEO in the middle age 30. His client was surrounded by friends who had the same power, but it’s never one or more times divorced, and married a young girl. Clients from Gerry will follow this style, but still living with the woman he is divorcing.
“Today we live in a culture that allows a divorce. We are increasingly beginning to think that a wedding should always be happy. In fact, there’s no marriage that can seamlessly provide 24 hours per day of happiness. We, too often makes us unhappy couples,” explained Gerry .
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