Divorce Is Contagious
A study finds divorce is contagious in social networks. The idea is based on the social contagion theory or the spread of behavior or emotion through a group. This is the case among those getting a divorce, in which the mere idea of it can spread like a virus. According to James H. Fowler, a professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego, this risk of divorce can spread not only to friends and family but also to relationships at least two degrees away from the original couple.
This means that your decision to divorce your spouse can influence whether your friend gets divorced, and, by extension, your friend’s friend, according to findings by Fowler and fellow researchers from Harvard and Brown Universities. This can be seen in the Gore family, who have already announced two marital separations this month: Former Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, and the couple’s eldest daughter, Karenna Gore Schiff, and her husband.
Fowler’s Research
Fowler’s research on divorce contagion doesn’t examine whether parents’ divorce affects children, but it does examine the effect on siblings. However, Fowler warns that children should watch out, as sibling divorce tends to spread. Fowler’s research is pending publication.
According to Fowler’s study, friends have even more influence on divorce than siblings do. People who had divorced friends were 147 percent more likely to be divorced than people whose friends’ marriages were intact. The study also looked at the effect on co-workers. A divorced co-worker can increase the likelihood of another employee divorcing by 55 percent compared to an employee who works with co-workers who are not divorced.
People with children, however, were less susceptible than other couples to getting a divorce. Chains of friends are also affected, the study concluded. For example, a divorcing person confides in a married friend who doesn’t opt for divorce but relays the details to a third person, influencing that person to divorce.
The reason why divorces create ripple effects in a social network is that people warm up to the idea of divorce when they see their friends, family, or co-workers going through it. When a divorced person confides in a married friend, the married person can see the pros and cons of divorce. Apparently, in Fowler’s study, most people saw the benefits of divorce. It should be noted, however, that the study analyzed data from only 5,000 people, a small sample of the population.
Fowler’s study also examines longitudinal data from the Framingham Heart Study, spanning several generations of people in a Massachusetts town over more than 30 years, beginning in the 1970s. Divorce went from being nearly taboo in the 1970s to being socially acceptable in the 1990s. This just shows how the perception of divorce has changed radically over the years.
Do You Need Legal Representation?
If you are facing a divorce and are searching for a reputable family law attorney, Stange Law Firm, PC can help. We focus on family law, including divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and other domestic relations issues.
To schedule your confidential half-hour consultation to meet with an attorney, call Stange Law Firm, PC at 855-805-0595 or visit us online.
Source: Could you be ‘infected’ by friend’s divorce? By Stephanie Chen, CNN
