Deck 15: The Dissolution of Marriage

Question 1

Marriage is still high on Americans' list of values. However, the value of marriage appears to be weakening for all the following EXCEPT:

A) granting marital-like rights to unmarried couples
B) high rate of marital break-up
C) changes in child custody laws
D) All of the above weaken the value of marriage.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

During the third stage of the divorce process, one of the partners begins to:

A) talk with an attorney.
B) imagine living apart.
C) lose rapport.
D) use sex as a weapon.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

America's high divorce rate has been linked to all of the following factors EXCEPT:

A) America's homogeneity.
B) social upheaval.
C) increased mobility.
D) changing gender roles.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

_____________ is credited with having the highest divorce rate in the world.

A) The United States
B) Italy
C) Russia
D) France

Question 5

The greatly increased life span means that marriages are now expected to:

A) produce more children.
B) endure much longer.
C) promote egalitarianism.
D) create a sense of alienation.

Question 6

Which couple is in the first stage of the divorce process?

A) Charlie brings up the idea of divorce to Rachel after months of unhappiness.
B) Nick and Sharon start going to parties and gatherings in different cars. Their friends notice they are not supporting each other.
C) Tony and Tina's sex life has declined and they no longer show the affection that once characterized their marriage.
D) Kyle fantasizes about his own apartment without Morgan.

Question 7

Changing gender roles in American society mean:

A) marriages are now open to interpretation.
B) individuals marry to promote their social status more than for individual freedom.
C) couples must negotiate parts of family life that used to be taken for granted.
D) the institution of marriage is bound to fail.

Question 8

The term serial marriage suggests that Americans tend to:

A) think that marriage is sacred.
B) equate marriage with self-gratification.
C) date a number of partners before marrying.
D) marry, divorce, and remarry.

Question 9

In the past, a good marriage was measured by how well each spouse:

A) contributed to the couple's emotional development.
B) maintained amicable relationships with in-laws.
C) responded to their partner's needs.
D) fulfilled the socially prescribed roles of husband and wife.

Question 10

The rate of divorce in this century has been:

A) fluctuating up and down for the last two decades.
B) fairly constant since the 1950s.
C) declining for the last 50 years.
D) rising throughout the century.

Question 11

Cox and Demmitt believe that the relative freedom of individuals to make marital choices tends to breed:

A) enduring marriages.
B) a certain amount of dissatisfaction.
C) child-oriented marriages.
D) vague behavioral goals.

Question 12

Marriages where the wife earns a higher percentage of the household income are:

A) less likely to end in divorce.
B) more likely to end in divorce.
C) no more or less likely to end in divorce.
D) more likely to be separated rather than divorced.

Question 13

How can Americans' high expectations of marriage contribute to the high divorce rate?

A) The high expectations have actually helped reduce the divorce rate.
B) Family was the only source for certain functions, which it can no longer fulfill.
C) Marriages based on love and not expectations are stronger.
D) The high expectations also mean great disappointment when they are not met.

Question 14

In the divorce process, the early signs of marital trouble are immediately followed by:

A) distancing behavior.
B) the decision to divorce.
C) fantasies of living apart.
D) a period of reconstruction.

Question 15

Cox and Demmitt believe that the most appropriate term for describing American marriages is:

A) "throwaway marriages."
B) "domestic partnerships."
C) "serial marriages."
D) "limited partnerships."

Question 16

The median duration of marriage at the time of divorce in the United States is approximately:

A) four years.
B) seven years.
C) 11 years.
D) 13 years.

Question 17

The rising divorce rates of the 1940s were caused by:

A) the women's movement.
B) declining religious values.
C) World War II.
D) liberal divorce laws.

Question 18

Desertion is especially prevalent among:

A) Southerners.
B) the poor.
C) young couples.
D) Hispanics.

Question 19

The crude divorce rate is the ratio of divorces to:

A) marriages in a given year.
B) remarriages in a given year.
C) each thousand persons within the population.
D) men and women of reproductive age (15 to 44).

Question 20

The crude divorce rate in 2009 was lower than in 1970. What accounts for this slight decline in divorce?

A) fewer children and marrying younger
B) increased levels of education and delaying marriage
C) increased socioeconomic status and education
D) greater gaps between children

Question 21

Couples begin to pull apart and distance themselves during the:

A) psychological divorce.
B) emotional divorce.
C) legal divorce.
D) economic divorce.

Question 22

____ does not prepare divorcing couples for the traumas and problems they will experience, nor does it encourage them to reevaluate their broken marriages and themselves.

A) Emotional divorce
B) The romantic myth of divorce
C) Creative divorce
D) Ambiguous loss

Question 23

Ken has lived like a hermit since his divorce. He calls his friends but none of them will return his calls. Ken's situation is characteristic of the ____ divorce.

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

Question 24

The inability to accept the partner the way he or she is or to accept unwanted change in a partner is at the root of most:

A) psychological divorces.
B) community divorces.
C) emotional divorces.
D) parental divorces.

Question 25

Generally, the possibility of divorce is first mentioned:

A) when the clouds of doubt first appear.
B) after one partner begins to imagine living apart.
C) during the initial consultation with an attorney.
D) before distancing behavior begins.

Question 26

Few divorced people are ever free of earlier relationships, but breaking the emotional bonds is possible by means of:

A) moving to another state.
B) remarriage.
C) escape.
D) anger.

Question 27

The most important divorce is the:

A) emotional divorce.
B) community divorce.
C) legal divorce.
D) psychological divorce.

Question 28

Community divorce asks which of the following questions?

A) When will I be able to let go of my past marriage and build a new life?
B) Who will keep the house?
C) Who will remain friends with the wife, and who with the husband?
D) How does my ex discipline our son?

Question 29

After the possibility of divorce is first mentioned:

A) clouds of doubt begin to form around the couple.
B) one of the partners imagines marrying a new partner.
C) the appearance of solidarity is broken before the public.
D) rapport is lost and emotional separation begins.

Question 30

An example of the constant self-questioning of those who divorce would be:

A) "What went wrong?"
B) "How can I make my ex-spouse pay?"
C) "Where should I look for a new spouse?"
D) "How many visitation rights should I allow?"

Question 31

The ____ divorce usually precedes the legal divorce.

A) community
B) psychological
C) emotional
D) parental

Question 32

In the divorce process, the crisis of actual physical separation follows:

A) the decision to divorce.
B) a period of mental conflict and reconstruction.
C) an attempt to work out the problems of co-parenting.
D) the actual divorce.

Question 33

The main task during the psychological divorce is to:

A) resolve child custody issues.
B) explain your situation to friends.
C) build a new life.
D) decide to seek a divorce.

Question 34

Wes believes that his life would be much more pleasant if he were married to his new secretary instead of his current wife. Such thoughts tend to emerge during the ____ stage of the divorce process.

A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth

Question 35

Creative divorce focuses on:

A) the positive aspects of divorce.
B) child custody issues.
C) property settlement.
D) religious guilt.

Question 36

Divorced people and the children of divorce are prevented from coming to a final acceptance of the divorce because:

A) they have low self-esteem.
B) they enter a new stepfamily immediately.
C) the spouse still lives.
D) the spouse marries soon after the divorce.

Question 37

__________________ is most likely to occur during the psychological divorce.

A) Losing rapport with your partner
B) Reentering the dating world
C) Establishing child support payments
D) Defining the role of grandparents

Question 38

The gradual shift from "us" to "me" occurs during the:

A) emotional divorce.
B) community divorce.
C) parental divorce.
D) economic divorce.

Question 39

Divorce can produce a sense of loss that resembles the grief that accompanies:

A) a period of unemployment.
B) the death of a loved one.
C) a natural disaster.
D) the empty nest syndrome.

Question 40

The "fiction of solidarity" is:

A) an expression of male dominance.
B) a reflection of heterogeneity.
C) part of the parental divorce.
D) an important face saver.

Question 41

More and more professionals are saying that a person should use the pain and suffering of divorce to:

A) counsel newlyweds about marital problems.
B) learn about himself.
C) remember what marriage was really like.
D) develop a tougher emotional exterior.

Question 42

According to your text, an example of a practical change that needs to be made when considering a divorce is:

A) who will care for the children.
B) who will get the house.
C) changing wills.
D) setting boundaries.

Question 43

The newly divorced face all of the following dangers EXCEPT:

A) becoming too socially active.
B) jumping quickly into a new marriage.
C) trying to get even with the former mate.
D) hoping that the spouse will return.

Question 44

Remaining friends with a newly divorced person is difficult because:

A) they are emotionally draining.
B) they may cause trouble in your own marriage.
C) they move away.
D) they form a new relationship that takes them away from you.

Question 45

In the community stage of divorce, individuals are likely to find that:

A) they have recovered from their divorce.
B) old friends are replaced by new friends.
C) they are invited to a lot of social events.
D) child custody is an explosive issue.

Question 46

The idea of staying together for the sake of the children:

A) has lost validity but may be reviving.
B) holds no validity and ultimately hurts children.
C) is a good idea according to most child development specialists.
D) has always been refuted by the women's movement.

Question 47

Jean and Don are recently divorced. Which of the following best represents how their standard of living is affected?

A) Don's standard of living will rise and Jean's will decline.
B) Don's standard of living will decline and Jean's will rise.
C) Both Jean and Don's standard of living will remain unchanged.
D) Immediately after the divorce the standard rises, but then declines after 2 years.

Question 48

The authors state that in order to get over a marriage you have to go back to it. What does this mean?

A) The spouses must reconcile and resume their relationship.
B) Couples must forget about each other.
C) You must examine the marriage to understand what went wrong.
D) A divorced individual must remarry.

Question 49

The myth of romantic divorce suggests that divorce is:

A) a moral sin.
B) an exciting adventure.
C) a stage in the family life cycle.
D) an unmanageable experience.

Question 50

Prior to no-fault divorce, alimony was used to:

A) prevent single-parent poverty.
B) off-set community property statutes.
C) punish a guilty spouse.
D) strengthen parental ties.

Question 51

Which of the following post-divorce reactions is likely to be the most destructive?

A) continuing to hope that the partner will return
B) withdrawing from friends and family
C) hurrying into a new marriage
D) continuing to harass the former spouse

Question 52

Dennis and Jessica divorced five years ago, but remain friends. Theirs is:

A) a community divorce.
B) an amicable divorce.
C) the myth of divorce.
D) an emotional divorce.

Question 53

Sarah was dating again before her divorce was final. It is likely that Sarah is:

A) afraid of failure.
B) making the right decision.
C) looking for economic support.
D) very religious.

Question 54

Several states have amended their laws so that permanent or at least long-term alimony can be awarded:

A) in certain cases of special need.
B) when the divorce is the man's fault.
C) if the marriage lasted more than two years.
D) without an expensive jury trial.

Question 55

All of the following are reasons why a woman's standard of living likely to decline after a divorce EXCEPT:

A) women earn less than men.
B) women are more likely to have custody of their children.
C) men often don't pay child support.
D) women are less likely to work after a divorce.

Question 56

The single-parent family created by divorce experiences not only economic problems, but problems with:

A) discipline.
B) grandparents.
C) time.
D) friendships.

Question 57

Which of the following is NOT a consequence for children of divorce?

A) feelings of anger and rejection persisting into adulthood
B) failure among boys to develop a sense of independence, confidence, or purpose
C) fear of marriage
D) anxiety in adolescence among boys

Question 58

Most divorced people start to date:

A) within the first year after their separation.
B) when the children are old enough to understand.
C) after they have been divorced for a couple of years.
D) in response to the domino effect.

Question 59

The lowest rate of child support payments is reported by:

A) black fathers.
B) unwed fathers.
C) Hispanic fathers.
D) rural fathers.

Question 60

Child support is awarded based on the child's needs and:

A) the custodial parent's ability to work.
B) the amount of life insurance taken out on the non-custodial parent.
C) the family resources before the divorce.
D) the supporting parent's ability to pay.

Question 61

The courts tend to award child custody to someone other than a parent or parents when both parents are:

A) illiterate.
B) poor.
C) incompetent.
D) immigrants.

Question 62

After a divorce, nine to ten year old children tend to:

A) feel a conflict of loyalty.
B) ignore their parents' divorce.
C) understand why their parents divorced.
D) blame society for their situation.

Question 63

Historically, the American attitude toward divorce stems from:

A) our Christian heritage.
B) traditional sex ratio imbalances.
C) feminist values.
D) the Bill of Rights.

Question 64

Cox and Demmitt believe that matrimonial law is:

A) the root cause of most painful divorces.
B) one of the most dynamic legal fields.
C) responsible for America's exploding divorce rate.
D) based on time-honored Christian values.

Question 65

Preschoolers react to divorce with:

A) divided loyalties.
B) confusion and self-blame.
C) anger and disbelief.
D) sadness and shame.

Question 66

Kyle lives with his mother, who has the sole responsibility for raising him. What type of custody does Kyle's mother have?

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

Question 67

Adolescents tend to react to divorce with:

A) self-blame and insecurity.
B) anger and shame.
C) divided loyalties.
D) fright and insecurity.

Question 68

The credo of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers is to preserve the best interest of the:

A) state.
B) legal profession.
C) family and society.
D) church.

Question 69

In split custody, the children are:

A) placed with an adoption agency.
B) awarded to their nearest relative.
C) divided between the parents.
D) allowed to sue their parents.

Question 70

Matrimonial law attempts to:

A) determine fault in a divorce case.
B) achieve equity between divorcing spouses.
C) stigmatize the divorce process.
D) enforce historical divorce laws.

Question 71

Julie's parents got a divorce six months ago. Since then, her mother has had to go to work and when she is home, she seems unable to function the way she did when they were all living together as a family. Julie has taken on the role of parent for her two younger brothers and often makes the meals, cleans the house, and does the family laundry. Jurkovic would call Julie:

A) the surrogate parent.
B) neglected.
C) individuated.
D) parentified.

Question 72

After a divorce, children seven to eight years old tend to:

A) openly accept their new living arrangements.
B) develop a strong hatred for the initiator of the divorce.
C) take out their aggressions on their friends.
D) express feelings of sadness and insecurity.

Question 73

Walsh found that it was easier for children to adjust to divorce if both parents continued to:

A) believe that the marriage wasn't over.
B) tell them that divorces are common.
C) embrace strong religious values.
D) be a part of their lives on a regular basis.

Question 74

The first problem for parents contemplating divorce is:

A) finding a lawyer.
B) liquidating their assets.
C) finding new friends.
D) telling the children.

Question 75

Joint custody has some perceived advantages over sole custody. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of joint custody?

A) sudden termination with one parent
B) reduction in the number of litigated custody cases
C) lessening the constant child-care burden
D) both parents continuing parenting roles

Question 76

According to Cox and Demmitt, it is in ____ that the children of divorce suffer most.

A) early childhood
B) the pre-teen years
C) the teenage years
D) adulthood

Question 77

As it relates to children and divorce, feeling or memories of hurt, jealousy, and anger do not diminish:

A) in intensity.
B) when parent remarry.
C) over time.
D) when they marry.

Question 78

____ tend to experience deteriorating relationships with their children after divorce.

A) Custodial fathers
B) Noncustodial fathers
C) Custodial mothers
D) Noncustodial mothers

Question 79

The average child support payment for noncustodial mothers is ____ than that of noncustodial fathers.

A) about 50% less
B) about 25% less
C) more
D) about the same

Question 80

Many girls who have experienced their parents' divorce are unable to:

A) understand the traditional female role.
B) make lasting commitments as adults.
C) avoid abusive relationships.
D) develop a sense of independence.