The Developmental Course of Marital Dysfunction

As the first comprehensive volume to explore how marriages develop and deteriorate, The Developmental Course of Marital Dysfunction brings together leading scholars to present recent research on the longitudinal course of marriage. The chapters share a common focus on the early phases of marriage but address a diverse array of topics, including marital conflict, personality, social support, the transition to parenthood, violence, ethnicity, stress, alcohol use, commitment, and sexuality. Implications of this research for alleviating marital distress are also noted. The book concludes with six provocative analyses by prominent scholars in the areas of sociology, clinical psychology, social psychology, and developmental psychology.

Divorce and marital instability are commonplace, but how do happy marriages become unhappy? How do marriages develop and change? In this book, leading researchers present recent research and theory that addresses these questions. Unlike previous books on marriage, which tend to focus on simply describing the differences between happy and unhappy couples, this book focuses on how marital dysfunction develops among newlywed couples. This information will be valuable as programs are devised to prevent marital discord and instability.