Deck 15: Divorce: Before and After

Question 1

Among low-income couples, a wife's earnings may actually help to hold the marriage together by counteracting the negative effects of poverty and economic insecurity on marital stability. This is known as the __________ effect to women's employment.

A) bootstrap
B) positive stabilizing
C) income
D) offsetting

Answer 1

C

Question 2

According to the most systematic investigation, marital complaints made by both men and women are usually about

A) not enough sex.
B) not enough money.
C) deficiencies in the emotional quality of the marriage.
D) infidelity.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

In which of the following race/ethnic categories are children least likely to be living in two-parent families?

A) Asian
B) Native American
C) African American
D) Hispanic

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Most observers (though not all) conclude that the divorce rate ___________.

A) is still on the rise
B) has stabilized for the time being
C) is beginning to decline
D) has declined drastically in the last few years

Question 5

Over __________ percent of first marriages are likely to end in divorce.

A) 10
B) 20
C) 30
D) 40

Question 6

Marriage was originally a social institution directed toward the practical purposes of economic support and responsible child rearing. Today, marriage tends tobe viewed as a

A) flexible agreement.
B) contract.
C) nadir of involvement.
D) happy, emotionally supportive relationship.

Question 7

There are a variety of demographic and behavioral factors that are related to divorce rates. Which of the following is NOT one of these?

A) Young children tend to destabilize marriage.
B) Remarried mates are more likely to divorce.
C) Race and ethnicity are differentially associated with the chances of divorcing.
D) Premarital pregnancy and childbearing increase the risk of divorce in a subsequent marriage.

Question 8

Between 1960 and a peak in 1979, the refined divorce rate

A) declined.
B) stayed the same.
C) increased slightly.
D) more than doubled.

Question 9

The text observes that although it may not affect marital quality, employment might nevertheless contribute to a divorce by giving an unhappily married woman the economic power, the increased independence, and the self-confidence to help her decide on divorce. This set of circumstances illustrates what is called the __________ effect.

A) income
B) divorce
C) independence
D) dependence

Question 10

WA consequence of remarriage, which have higher divorce rates than first marriages, is an emerging trend of

A) redivorce.
B) legal separation.
C) serial monogamy.
D) overall divorce decline.

Question 11

Sociologist Linda Waite studied couples on the verge of divorcing, and found out that for those who remained married, two-thirds described themselves as "__________" five years later.

A) very unhappy
B) still on the verge of divorce
C) struggling at times
D) very happy

Question 12

The crude divorce rate is

A) the number of divorces per 1,000 population.
B) the number of divorces per 1,000 married women over age 18.
C) the number of divorces per year.
D) the ratio of current marriages to current divorces.

Question 13

When a group of researchers cited in the text examined the relationship between actual divorces and perceived barriers to divorce, they found that only three of the nine barriers studied were associated with a lower likelihood of divorce. Which of the following is NOT one of these?

A) when wife's income was a smaller percentage of the family income
B) when church attendance was high
C) when there was a new child
D) when the parties involved realize that something must be done

Question 14

Improvements in unhappy marriages come about for various reasons. Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons cited by sociologist Linda Waite?

A) the passage of time (children got older, job or other problems improved)
B) hormonal changes (helped with moods and fighting)
C) partners' efforts to work on problems, make changes, and communicate better
D) individual partners made personal changes (travel, work, hobbies, etc.)

Question 15

Divorces occur relatively early in marriage. The median length of a first marriage that ends in divorce is about _________ years.

A) six
B) eight
C) ten
D) twelve

Question 16

Income loss has been found to __________ the likelihood of divorce.

A) decrease
B) have no effect on
C) lessen
D) increase

Question 17

W__________ divorce laws, which exist in all fifty states, have eliminated legal concepts of guilt and are a symbolic representation of how our society now views divorce.

A) Mutual
B) No-fault
C) Equal party
D) No-custody

Question 18

__________ theorists would be most likely to observe that marital discord may increase if women go into the job market but their husbands do not take over an equitable share of the domestic tasks.

A) Conflict
B) Exchange
C) Functionalist
D) Interactionist

Question 19

The text points out that children, fear of losing the child, religion, and a lack of financial resources are sometimes perceived by spouses as __________ divorce.

A) barriers to
B) preludes to
C) concomitants of
D) consequences of

Question 20

In a study conducted in the Boston area, Brennan, Barnett, and Gareis found that

A) all men were disturbed when their wives had higher earnings.
B) role specialization is no longer so important to couple solidarity.
C) women were adversely affected when they earned more than their husbands did.
D) role specialization is very important to couples.

Question 21

Only 9 percent of children who live in married-couple families live in poverty. However, __________ percent of all children who reside in mother-only, single-parent families (often due to divorce) live in poverty.

A) 23
B) 33
C) 43
D) 53

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT one of the consequences of the Child Support Amendments to the Social Security Act, the Family Support Act, and other governmental child support provisions?

A) encouraged the establishment of paternity and consequent child support awards
B) required states to develop numerical guidelines for determining child support awards from which judges would find it difficult to depart
C) required periodic review of child support award levels
D) required ex-spouses to pay child support that reflects at least 50 percent of their tax-adjusted income.

Question 23

Hetherington maintains that __________ percent of those who obtain a divorce have a "good enough" post-divorce adjustment.

A) 10
B) 20
C) 30
D) 70

Question 24

Dana and David have recently divorced. Each of them has discovered that their relationships with extended kin and with friends have changed rather dramatically since the dissolution of their marriage. These circumstances reflect which "station" of divorce?

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

Question 25

The text points out that some financially dependent spouses have been awarded short-term spousal support of maintenance in the form of __________.

A) rehabilitative alimony
B) child support
C) an entitlement
D) financial compensation

Question 26

Because mothers retain custody in the preponderance of divorce cases, and because women are economically disadvantaged in employment, fathers are the most likely to

A) suffer economically.
B) experience frustration.
C) pay child support.
D) be granted an entitlement.

Question 27

Charlene is a single mother with low income. She receives a government grant based on the number of children she has. Charlene's situation reflects

A) guaranteed child support.
B) a children's allowance.
C) child welfare.
D) Aid to Families With Dependent Children.

Question 28

One study cited in the text looked at the general character of postdivorce extended-kin relationships. This investigation found that, in half the cases, the kinship system included __________ of divorce and of remarriage.

A) relatives
B) a typology
C) stations
D) ingredients

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT one of sociologist Paul Bohannan's "stations" of divorce?

A) emotional
B) legal
C) sexual
D) psychic

Question 30

Most research presents a consistent picture of post-divorce __________ for women.

A) economic decline
B) occupational opportunity
C) career enhancement
D) economic improvement

Question 31

WWallerstein and her colleagues followed their sample of children of divorce for ten years. In terms of the impact of divorce on these children ten years later and after, the overall impression left by their research is one of

A) regret.
B) anger.
C) sorrow.
D) loss.

Question 32

While studying children's postdivorce adjustment, psychologist Judith Wallerstein was surprised at their later educational downward mobility. __________ percent of the study children were likely to receive less education than their fathers.

A) 60
B) 50
C) 40
D) 30

Question 33

In Amato's typology, the __________ perspective assumes that, just as divorce is known to be an emotionally challenging life event for adults, it must also be so for children.

A) interparental conflict
B) life stress
C) parental adjustment
D) economic hardship

Question 34

More than __________ of all divorces involve children under eighteen, and about 40 percent of children born to married parents will experience marital disruption.

A) one-quarter
B) one-third
C) half
D) two-thirds

Question 35

David and Patricia have been married for ten years. They no longer reinforce, but rather undermine each other's self-esteem through endless large and small betrayals; they blame, rather than comfort each other. These conditions reflect the __________ "station" of divorce.

A) psychic
B) emotional
C) community
D) legal

Question 36

Marie lives in Paris, France, and is the custodial parent of her 2-year-old son. Even if her ex-husband fails to pay his court-ordered child support, the government sends Marie the full amount of support awarded to her son. This procedure is referred to in the text as

A) government-based child support allowance.
B) a children's allowance.
C) guaranteed child support.
D) cost-sharing child support.

Question 37

Jack and Judy have worked out a divorce settlement through an alternative, non-adversarial means of dispute resolution, and with the assistance of a

A) lawyer.
B) mediator.
C) judge.
D) jury panel.

Question 38

Wallerstein found that __________ of the children in her study had experienced a second divorce of one or both parents.

A) one-quarter
B) one-third
C) half
D) more than half

Question 39

In 1970, the state of __________ was the first to introduce no-fault divorce legislation.

A) California
B) New York
C) Michigan
D) Washington

Question 40

Jay and Janet have just received a copy of the court order terminating their marriage. These circumstances reflect the __________ "station" of divorce.

A) emotional
B) economic
C) legal
D) psychic

Question 41

The poverty rate of single custodial mothers __________ between 1993 and 2007; although at 27 percent, it remains higher than that of custodial fathers.

A) dropped significantly
B) dropped slightly
C) stayed the same
D) rose slightly

Question 42

What percentage of noncustodial fathers have at least weekly contact with their children?

A) 45-50
B) 35-60
C) 25-30
D) 15-20

Question 43

On average, in comparison with their counterparts from stable households, adult children of divorced parents

A) acquire more education.
B) marry later in life.
C) are less likely to cohabit.
D) have weaker ties to their divorced parents.

Question 44

In looking at outcomes for divorced parents, Hetherington found that __________ percent of children were "coping reasonably well."

A) 75-80
B) 50-60
C) 30-50
D) 10-25

Question 45

In the United States, as part of a patriarchal system of law, divorced fathers were automatically given custody of their children until the __________ century.

A) early eighteenth
B) mid-eighteenth
C) early-nineteenth
D) mid-nineteenth

Question 46

Judith Fisher has studied noncustodial mothers and urges certain behaviors and attitudes. Which of the following is NOT one of these?

A) the negation of the unflattering stereotypes of noncustody mothers
B) sensitivity to the demands society places on mothers
C) limitations on the woman's choice, even when it appears to have been well thought out
D) prohibitions against blaming the mother when others decide that the children should live apart from her

Question 47

In her investigations of non-custodial mothers, Judith Fisher made several recommendations. Which of the following is NOT one of these?

A) the negation of the unflattering stereotypes of non-custody mothers
B) supportiveness of the woman's choice (to be the non-custodial parent)
C) prohibitions against blaming the mother when others (the children, the children's father, the courts) decide that the children should live apart from her
D) rejection of the demands society places on mothers

Question 48

Sociologist Catherine Ross compared levels of psychological distress for men and women in four different categories. Which of the following is NOT one of these?

A) marrieds
B) cohabitors
C) those who were dating
D) those with multiple partners

Question 49

In the __________ custody variation in joint custody agreements, both parents have the right to participate in important decisions and retain a symbolically important legal authority, with physical custody (that is, residential care of the child) going to just one parent.

A) modified egalitarian
B) joint legal
C) joint legal and physical
D) semi-combined

Question 50

A study sponsored by the Justice Department reports that __________ children were abducted by family members in 1999.

A) 1000
B) 20,000
C) 100,000
D) over 200,000

Question 51

In Amato's typology, the __________ perspective holds that financial difficulties brought about by marital dissolution is primarily responsible for the problems faced by children of divorce.

A) interparental conflict
B) parental adjustment
C) economic hardship
D) life stress

Question 52

As of 2001, three states have enacted covenant marriage laws. Which of the following is NOT one of these states?

A) Alaska
B) Arizona
C) Louisiana
D) Arkansas

Question 53

Sociologist William Aquilino analyzed National Survey of Families and Households data from over 3,000 who grew up in intact families from birth to age 18. Aquilino found that even when parents divorce after the child is 18,

A) the divorce has little affect on the quality of the relationship
B) the divorce seems to negatively affect the quality of the relationship
C) the divorce is severely emotionally dehabilitating
D) the child is more likely to get divorced

Question 54

One review of 33 studies of joint and sole custody found that

A) children in sole custody arrangements had superior adjustment.
B) children in joint custody arrangements had superior adjustment.
C) joint custody and intact family children differed considerably in terms of adjustment.
D) the advantages of joint custody apply only to legal joint custody.

Question 55

In Amato's typology, the __________ perspective holds that conflict between parents prior to, during, and after the divorce is responsible for the lowered well-being of children of divorce.

A) interparental conflict
B) parental adjustment
C) economic hardship
D) life stress

Question 56

Which of the following options requires spouses to prove fault or live apart for a certain length of time in order to obtain a divorce?

A) serial monogamy
B) covenant marriage
C) divorce mediation
D) premarital counseling

Question 57

There are more than __________ noncustodial mothers, concentrated in the twenty-five to forty-five age range and lower- to middle-class economic level.

A) two million
B) one million
C) 500,000
D) 100,000

Question 58

Generally, evidence suggests that adult children of divorced parents feel less obligation to their parents. Social scientists have posited four reasons for these findings. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

A) Children reared in divorced, single-parent families may have received fewer resources from their custodial parent than did their friends in intact families.
B) Adult children of divorce are more likely to suffer from mental disorders.
C) The reciprocal obligations may be less clear.
D) Strain may weaken subsequent relations between adult children and their parents.

Question 59

In Amato's typology, the __________ perspective stresses the quality of parenting in terms of children's adjustment to divorce.

A) economic hardship
B) parental loss
C) interparental conflict
D) parental adjustment

Question 60

Emerging developmental theories of childhood well-being provided support to a presumption that when divorce occurs, mother custody was always in the child's best interest. This point of view came to be known as the so-called "__________" doctrine.

A) best interests of the child
B) primary caretaker
C) tender years
D) lonely hearts

Question 61

The good divorce does not end a family but instead produces a __________-two households, one family.

A) second option
B) split home
C) double home front
D) binuclear family

Question 62

The crude divorce rate is the number of divorces per 1,000 married women over age fifteen.

Question 63

Sociologists Sharon Houseknecht and Jaya Sastry conducted research to examine the relationship between family "decline" and child well-being in four industrialized countries. Which nation had the highest family decline score?

A) Sweden
B) the United States
C) the former West Germany
D) Italy

Question 64

When only a "fault" divorce statute was available, in which state was adultery the only practicable grounds for divorce?

A) California
B) New York
C) Michigan
D) Mississippi

Question 65

Most observers conclude that, for the time being, the divorce rate continues to rise dramatically.

Question 66

Race and ethnicity are differentially associated with the chances of divorcing.

Question 67

Many observers attribute our society's high divorce rate to the fact that Americans expectations for marriage are too high these days.

Question 68

Which of the following is NOT one of the types of post-divorce relationships identified by Ahrons?

A) "Perfect Pals"
B) "Bitter Pills"
C) "Fiery Foes"
D) "Angry Associates"

Question 69

The high divorce rate implies that Americans are "giving up" on marriage.

Question 70

Long marriages are more likely to end in divorce because marital happiness declines over time.

Question 71

Home ownership elevates the risk of divorce.

Question 72

In order to obtain a divorce when a couple has a covenant marriage, fault must be proven. Which of the following is NOT one of the examples given by the text as "fault," or justification for divorce?

A) adultery
B) physical or sexual abuse
C) imprisonment for a felony
D) lack of domestic skills

Question 73

The Binuclear Family Study was led by sociologist

A) Sharon Houseknecht.
B) David Popenoe.
C) Constance Ahrons.
D) Talcott Parsons.

Question 74

The frequency of divorce increased throughout most of the twentieth century.

Question 75

The marital complaint most frequently mentioned by both men and women involves the lack of satisfying sex.

Question 76

Under "fault" divorce statutes, which of the following grounds was the most easily proven?

A) adultery
B) alienation of affection
C) mental cruelty
D) non-support

Question 77

Which of the following is NOT one of Melinda Blau's general guidelines for co-parents?

A) Communicate through your children.
B) Divide parenting time.
C) Recognize and accept that change is inevitable and therefore can be anticipated.
D) Know that co-parenting is forever.

Question 78

Harriet and Donald have recently divorced. Each of them is going through a process of learning to feel whole again and to have faith in their individual abilities to cope with the world. These circumstances reflect which "station" of divorce?

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

Question 79

According to the text, it appears that no-fault divorce laws have themselves led to more divorce.

Question 80

In Ahrons' post-divorce relationship typology, "__________" were friends who called each other often and brought their common children and new family ties together on holidays or for outings or other activities.

A) cooperative colleagues
B) angry associates
C) perfect pals
D) fiery foes