Deck 15: Separation and Divorce

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a reason why black women who separate after age 23 are more likely to reconcile than are younger women?

A)Older women are more mature and more willing to make sacrifices in reuniting.
B)Older women have invested more in the marriage,especially if there are children.
C)Older women may be more likely to feel that marriage should be a lifetime commitment.
D)Older women were more worried about living by themselves.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Since 1995,divorce rates

A)began to climb steadily.
B)leveled off.
C)began dropping.
D)have remained unchanged.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The emotional divorce often progresses through stages.In the beginning phase,

A)spouses feel disappointment in each other but hope the marriage will improve.
B)the partner who is less happy begins evaluating the rewards and costs of leaving the marriage.
C)one of the partners stops caring and detaches emotionally from the other.
D)one of the partners contacts a lawyer and files for divorce.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Long-term separations are most likely among women who

A)have a high income.
B)have no children.
C)do not have a high school degree.
D)are employed.

Question 5

During the __________ phase of separation,the couple,besides feeling ambivalent about leaving the marriage,may be confronted by questions such as what should they tell family and friends and others and who gets various possessions.

A)preseparation
B)early separation
C)midseparation
D)late separation

Question 6

This can be a temporary "time-out" in a highly stressful marriage,in which the partners decide whether or not to continue their marriage.One partner may move out of the home during this time.What is this arrangement called?

A)separation
B)divorce
C)dissolution
D)resolution

Question 7

During the __________ phase of separation,the harsh realities of everyday living set in,the pressure of maintaining two separate households and meeting the daily emotional and physical needs of the children mount,and stress intensifies.

A)preseparation
B)early separation
C)midseparation
D)late separation

Question 8

Which of the following statements about counseling and marital therapy is accurate?

A)Many scientific studies have shown counseling to be very effective at preventing divorce.
B)Counseling is less effective if the counselor serves as an impartial observer.
C)All marriages are salvageable if the partners get help to work through their problems.
D)Counselor can help couples and families decrease some difficulties such as parenting problems.

Question 9

During the __________ phase of separation,the partners must learn how to survive as singles again.

A)preseparation
B)early separation
C)midseparation
D)late separation

Question 10

Which of the following statements concerning the negative effects of divorce on children is inaccurate?

A)Most of children's problems after divorce are due to the divorce itself.
B)Children's adjustment to divorce depends on the quality of parenting they experience after the marriage ends.
C)Economic hardship after divorce has a negative effect on children's well-being.
D)Typically,divorce crystallizes rather than creates long-standing family problems.

Question 11

According to Bohannon,the __________ stage of divorce begins before any legal steps are taken and one or both partners may feel disillusioned,unhappy,or rejected.

A)emotional
B)legal
C)economic
D)co-parental

Question 12

The emotional divorce often progresses through stages.In the end phase,

A)spouses feel disappointment in each other but hope the marriage will improve.
B)the partner who is less happy begins evaluating the rewards and costs of leaving the marriage.
C)one of the partners stops caring and detaches emotionally from the other.
D)one of the partner contacts a lawyer and files for divorce.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about divorce is accurate?

A)Half of all marriages end in divorce.
B)Over a lifetime,a majority of American marriages end in divorce.
C)Divorce is less likely today than it was thirty years ago.
D)Between 2000 and 2008 the divorce rate increased.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about divorce is accurate?

A)Half of all marriages end in divorce.
B)Over a lifetime,a majority of American marriages end in divorce.
C)Divorce is less likely today than it was thirty years ago.
D)Between 2000 and 2008 the divorce rate increased.

Question 15

According to the most recent study,__________ married U.S.couples who have separated get back together.

A)only a small percent of
B)about half of
C)many
D)most

Question 16

During the __________ phase of separation,partners fantasize about what it would be like to live alone,to escape from family responsibilities,or to form new sexual liaisons.

A)preseparation
B)early separation
C)midseparation
D)late separation

Question 17

Monetary payments by the noncustodial parent to the parent who has custody of the children to help pay childrearing expenses is called

A)taxes.
B)a transfer payment.
C)alimony.
D)child support.

Question 18

The emotional divorce often progresses through stages.In the middle phase,

A)spouses feel disappointment in each other but hope the marriage will improve.
B)the partner who is less happy begins evaluating the rewards and costs of leaving the marriage.
C)one of the partners stops caring and detaches emotionally from the other.
D)one of the partner contacts a lawyer and files for divorce.

Question 19

According to Bohannon,in the __________ stage of divorce,partners argue about who should pay past debts,property taxes,and unforeseen expenses for the children.

A)emotional
B)legal
C)economic
D)co-parental

Question 20

Monetary payment made by one ex-spouse to the other is called

A)taxes.
B)a transfer payment.
C)alimony.
D)child support.

Question 21

According to Bohannon,in the __________ stage of divorce,partners separate from each other emotionally and establish separate lives.

A)community
B)psychic
C)co-parental
D)legal

Question 22

Living together before marriage

A)decreases a couple's chance of divorce if they marry.
B)increases a couple's chance of divorce if they marry.
C)has no effect on a couple's chance of divorce if they marry.
D)decreases a couple's chance of divorce if they marry but only if they have lived with several different people over time.

Question 23

If the parents of one or both partners in a marriage were divorced when they were children,the partners themselves

A)are highly unlikely to divorce.
B)are more likely to divorce.
C)will divorce for sure.
D)are neither more nor less likely to divorce.

Question 24

The divorce process in which neither partner needs to establish the guilt or wrongdoing of the other is called

A)marital dissolution.
B)social integration.
C)no-fault divorce.
D)alimony.

Question 25

Which of the following statements is true?

A)Men are more likely to initiate divorce than women are.
B)Women are more likely to initiate divorce than men are.
C)Men and women are equally likely to initiate divorce.
D)Women are more likely to initiate the separation,whereas men initiate the legal divorce.

Question 26

Which of the following is an accurate statement concerning macro-level reasons for divorce?

A)During severe economic recessions,divorce rates tend to increase significantly.
B)Military service is associated with decreased divorce rates as couples spend less time together.
C)Technology has made divorce more accessible.
D)Americans are less accepting of divorce than they used to be.

Question 27

__________ may be one of the strongest predictors of divorce in the first ten years of marriage.

A)Personality differences
B)Having children
C)Extramarital sex
D)Early marriage

Question 28

The text observes that not all couples go through all six of Bohannon's stages,and that the most important point is that divorce is a

A)process that involves many people and may take time to complete.
B)traumatic event that most couples have difficulty getting over.
C)product of our legal system.
D)psychological experience that is unique to each divorcing couple.

Question 29

According to Bohannon,in the __________ stage of divorce,the partners make agreement regarding legal responsibility for financial support of the children,the day-to-day care of the children,and the rights of both the custodial and noncustodial parents in spending time with the children.

A)emotional
B)legal
C)economic
D)co-parental

Question 30

After Martin and Abby divorced,Martin left the state.He did not contact the children and sent no money for their care.Martin and Abby's style of relating to each other is

A)cooperative colleagues.
B)dissolved duos.
C)angry associates.
D)perfect pals.

Question 31

Which of the following statements concerning no-fault divorce laws is true?

A)Incompatibility is not a valid reason for divorce under no-fault divorce law.
B)One partner has to prove the other was to blame for the collapse of the marriage.
C)Divorce is only granted for adultery,desertion,or physical and mental cruelty.
D)Divorce may be granted on the basis of "irreconcilable differences."

Question 32

The presence of __________ age children,especially firstborn children,seems to increase marital stability.

A)preschool
B)elementary school
C)middle school
D)high school

Question 33

After their divorce,Peggy and Frank continued to harbor bitter resentment against each other for things that happened in their marriage.Because of this they had a hard time working out visitation and financial issues for many years.Their style of relating to each other is

A)cooperative colleagues.
B)dissolved duos.
C)angry associates.
D)fiery foes.

Question 34

Who is most likely to divorce?

A)whites
B)African Americans
C)Asian Americans
D)Latinos

Question 35

A macro-level reason for divorce would be

A)extramarital affairs.
B)education.
C)race and ethnicity.
D)changing gender roles.

Question 36

The social bonds that people have with others and with the community at large represent

A)social integration.
B)demographic stability.
C)macro sociology.
D)micro interactions.

Question 37

A ruling that a marriage is invalid for a variety of reasons,including adultery,pressure to marry,failure to consummate a marriage through vaginal intercourse,or a refusal to have children is called

A)a divorce.
B)a separation.
C)a de facto dissolution.
D)an annulment.

Question 38

Matt and Kim had a bitter divorce and are completely unable to remember any of the good times in their marriage.Because of their mutual resentment,each one tries to get the kids to side with them.This style of relating to each other is called

A)perfect pals.
B)cooperative colleagues.
C)fiery foes.
D)dissolved duos

Question 39

Conceiving or giving birth to a child before marriage

A)increases the chance of divorce.
B)decreases the chance of divorce.
C)neither increases nor decreases the chance of divorce.
D)increases the chance of separation but not divorce.

Question 40

Although Patrick and Mariana did not remain close friends after they divorced,they were able to work together in matters that concerned their children.Their style of relating to each other is

A)cooperative colleagues.
B)perfect pals.
C)angry associates.
D)dissolved duos.

Question 41

According to the text's discussion of the divorce hangover,if someone you know who has divorced can't seem to get back on track,start back to school,get a new job,become involved in new relationships,or find new friends,that person may be

A)blaming and finding fault.
B)in paralysis.
C)lashing out.
D)holding on.

Question 42

Alimony is

A)awarded only if the wife is employed and the couple had children.
B)less common than in the past.
C)money that men have to pay for child support.
D)fees paid to the courts for the divorce.

Question 43

According to the text's discussion of the divorce hangover,if someone you know has divorced but still keeps the ex-spouse's photograph on the piano,and clothing or other former possessions of the ex-spouse in view,that person may be

A)blaming and finding fault.
B)in paralysis.
C)lashing out.
D)holding on.

Question 44

Although we know little about same-sex divorce in the United States,a study of same-sex divorce in Norway and Sweden indicates that

A)gay men were twice as likely as lesbians to divorce.
B)divorce rates for same-sex couples were lower than for opposite-sex couples.
C)couples who are young when they marry are more likely to divorce.
D)overall divorce rates were very low because couples received more support from their families,friends and communities.

Question 45

Proponents of co-custody advance several arguments in favor of this arrangement.Which of the following is NOT one of their arguments?

A)Most men say they want to care for their children.
B)Much research indicates that the father's involvement is essential to children's development.
C)Co-custody eases the economic burdens of parenting,particularly for mothers.
D)Fathers do not have to pay child support under co-custody arrangements,so there is less conflict.

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT a reason why African American divorce rates are high?

A)They have higher rates of teenage and premarital pregnancy.
B)They have high rates of poverty.
C)They tend to marry at an older age.
D)They often have children from a previous relationship.

Question 47

Divorced people are usually

A)better off than married people in many ways.
B)worse off than married people in many ways.
C)better off emotionally than married people,but not economically.
D)unaffected by the process of divorce.

Question 48

In which type of custody are the children divided between the parents either by sex or by choice?

A)joint custody
B)split custody
C)sole custody
D)local custody

Question 49

Opponents of co-custody contend that it does more harm than good.Which of the following is NOT one of their arguments?

A)Co-custody creates instability and confusion.
B)Children may have to deal with more parental conflict.
C)Co-custody makes it possible for men who abused their wives or children before the divorce to continue the same behavior.
D)Co-custody is a financial hardship on men who are expected to increase child support payments.

Question 50

People who have college degrees are less likely to divorce.Why is this?

A)People with college degrees are smarter and choose better mates.
B)People with college degrees marry younger before they become jaded with dating.
C)People with college degrees are more likely to marry for love.
D)Going to college postpones marriage resulting in more mature,experienced partners.

Question 51

Co-parenting after divorce

A)refers to divorced parents' being involved in making decisions about the child's education,health care,religious training and social activities.
B)requires divorced to interact face to face.
C)is a legal type of custody defined by legal statutes.
D)requires less communication between parents because there is a parenting plan to guide their interactions with the children.

Question 52

According to the text's discussion of the divorce hangover,if someone you know who has divorced tries to assert control in such ways as making unreasonable demands or blowing up at a friend because the ex-spouse was invited to a party,that person may be

A)blaming and finding fault.
B)in paralysis.
C)lashing out.
D)holding on.

Question 53

In which type of custody do the children divide their time between both parents who share in the decisions about their upbringing?

A)joint custody
B)split custody
C)sole custody
D)local custody

Question 54

For both men and women,the number one reason cited for their divorce was

A)lack of commitment.
B)too much conflict and arguing.
C)infidelity.
D)married too young.

Question 55

The term co-custody refers to

A)one parent having sole custody while the other parent has visitation rights.
B)parents sharing custody of children with another relative who acts as a guardian.
C)a child living with one parent but both parents share decision making about issues such as health care and education.
D)parents sharing physical and legal custody of their children equally.

Question 56

A court-mandated ruling as to which parent will have the primary responsibility for the welfare and upbringing of a couple's children is called

A)a separation agreement.
B)alimony.
C)custody.
D)child support.

Question 57

Women tend to do worse economically after a divorce than men for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

A)they are much more likely to get custody of the children.
B)they are less likely to remarry especially if they are older.
C)child support payments rarely meet mother's and children's living expenses.
D)women do not work after the divorce.

Question 58

Which of the following statements about the physical,emotional and psychological effect of divorce on adults is FALSE?

A)Generally,divorce decreases physical well-being.
B)Even when both partners know their marriage cannot be salvaged,they are often ambivalent about the divorce.
C)Men tend to report more depression after the divorce.
D)An individual's emotional health usually improves when the person forms a new relationship.

Question 59

What generally happens to a woman's economic well-being after she divorces?

A)It stays the same.
B)It increases.
C)It declines.
D)It fluctuates and then improves.

Question 60

Which of the following is NOT an interpersonal reason for divorce?

A)unrealistic expectations
B)conflict and abuse
C)infidelity
D)social class

Question 61

Generally children and young adults experience positive outcomes after their parents' divorce if

A)the custodial parent remarries right away.
B)parents create a parenting plan so they can minimize communication after the divorce.
C)the children stay only with one parent rather than trying to spend a lot of time with both parents.
D)a parent's relocation doesn't disrupt the children's everyday life.

Question 62

According to the text's discussion of divorced parents treating their children as peers,

A)most children were happy and better off emotionally when their parents to confided in them.
B)parentifying children can turn them into miniature adults who aren't emotionally ready to cope with adult burdens.
C)parents only rely on their children when the children are mature enough to handle it.
D)children who become caretakers for a parent after divorce mature faster and are better able to focus on their own individual growth.

Question 63

According to researchers and family clinicians,parents can lessen some of divorce's negative effects by

A)not talking to their children about their own negative feelings about the divorce.
B)minimizing the amount of contact the noncustodial parent has with the children.
C)reassuring the children that they will continue to see their grandparents on both sides of the family.
D)being open with the children about who was to blame for the divorce.

Question 64

Separation is always a temporary arrangement.

Question 65

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of divorce mediation?

A)It increases communication between spouses.
B)It generally reduces the time needed to negotiate a divorce settlement.
C)It prevents children from being pawns or trophies in a divorce contest.
D)It eliminates the hurt caused by separation and divorce.

Question 66

According to Nuta,fathers who do not pay their court-ordered child support fall into four major categories.Which father may use child support as a form of control to change a visitation agreement or to punish his wife?

A)the parent in pain
B)the overextended parent
C)the irresponsible parent
D)the vengeful parent

Question 67

In divorce __________,a trained arbitrator helps the divorcing couple come to an agreement about issues such as custody arrangements,child support,and the division of marital property.

A)training
B)counseling
C)mediation
D)therapy

Question 68

Which of the following statements concerning parental conflict and hostility and the negative effects of divorce on children is FALSE?

A)Often it is not the divorce itself but parental attitudes during and after the divorce that affect children's behavior.
B)The end of a highly-conflicted marriage typically improves a child's well-being.
C)Children from low-conflict marriages tend to do better after the divorce.
D)Children with parents in high-conflict marriages fare worse as adults than those from families in which high conflict has ended in divorce.

Question 69

Which of the following statements concerning collaborative divorce is inaccurate?

A)It is less stressful for the divorcing couple because a trained arbitrator makes more of the decisions.
B)It gives couples more control over the outcome of the divorce.
C)The process is usually less expensive and takes less time than litigation.
D)It spares the children the stress of watching the parents fight and grieve over the breakup.

Question 70

According to the text's discussion of economic hardship after divorce,

A)financial problems usually increase,especially for mothers.
B)men's income usually decreases due to alimony and child support payments.
C)family income tends to fall more for white families than for black families.
D)the parent with physical custody of the children tends to do better economically.

Question 71

Which of the following is a problem with court-ordered child support?

A)States vary a great deal in the extent to which they enforce child-support laws.
B)Parents who live in a different state than their ex-spouse are often required to pay more child support.
C)Men who are forced to pay child support are more likely to have children with another woman to try to get out of paying the support.
D)Most states are too strict in enforcing the laws,resulting in fathers losing their jobs and making it harder for them to pay child support.

Question 72

According to Nuta,fathers who do not pay their court-ordered child support fall into four major categories.Which father may feel shut out of the family and therefore distances himself physically and emotionally from his children?

A)the parent in pain
B)the overextended parent
C)the irresponsible parent
D)the vengeful parent

Question 73

Which of the following statements concerning the negative effects of divorce on children is inaccurate?

A)Most of children's problems after divorce are due to the divorce itself.
B)Children's adjustment to divorce depends on the quality of parenting they experience after the marriage ends.
C)Economic hardship after divorce has a negative effect on children's well-being.
D)Typically,divorce crystallizes rather than creates long-standing family problems.

Question 74

The custodial parent is most likely to receive the full amount of court-ordered child-support payments if

A)she or he has at least a college degree.
B)the noncustodial parent has little contact with the children.
C)she or he is younger than age 30.
D)she or he depends on public assistance.

Question 75

According to the text's discussion of the effects of divorce on adults,

A)during the first year,the majority of people feel good about their divorce.
B)women are especially likely to say that they enjoy their new found freedom.
C)the majority of adults continue to have emotional problems many years after the divorce.
D)men are more likely than women to say they gained from the divorce.

Question 76

In 1984,Congress passed the Child Support Enforcement Amendments that require states to

A)deduct delinquent support from fathers' paychecks and tax returns.
B)arrest nonpaying fathers.
C)punish nonpaying fathers with imprisonment.
D)fine nonpaying fathers.

Question 77

According to the text's discussion of the effect of the timing of divorce on children,

A)it doesn't matter how old children are when a parent divorces as all children are negatively effected by the divorce.
B)divorces that occur in early childhood,especially before age 5,create early instability that can alter children's development and later social relationships.
C)young children under age 5 are better able to adapt to their parents' divorce.
D)older children are more at risk for developmental problems especially if the divorce happens during adolescence.

Question 78

The majority of Americans say that divorce is morally acceptable.

Question 79

According to Nuta,the greatest number of child-support dodgers are

A)the parent in pain.
B)the overextended parent.
C)the irresponsible parent.
D)the vengeful parent.

Question 80

Which of the following statements about counseling and marital therapy is accurate?

A)Many scientific studies have shown counseling to be very effective at preventing divorce.
B)Counseling is less effective if the counselor serves as an impartial observer.
C)All marriages are salvageable if the partners get help to work through their problems.
D)Counselor can help couples and families decrease some difficulties such as parenting problems.