All kinds of problems in married life can lead to divorce. Extra-marital affairs often occur not because of sexual needs, but rather as an attempt to seek friendship, support, understanding, respect, attention, care, etc. in this way. If these things are not available from the family, one or both partners will look outside the marital relationship.
■ Romantic love is enough to create marital happiness.
Love does not conquer everyone, and at the same time love alone cannot avoid and solve your marital problems. Therefore, you must understand the true meaning of love and learn the unique skills of married life.
■Common interests enhance intimacy.
Whether interests truly pull different people together depends on the way you communicate about each other’s interests.
■Egalitarian marriages live more comfortably than traditional marriages.
Egalitarian marriage allows you to transcend gender differences, but it’s quite difficult. While an egalitarian model of marriage is good, the fact is that one spouse in a difficult situation is often met with resistance to the expectations and responsibilities of gender roles.
■ The arrival of a child can add to a couple’s bond.
This is another nice way of saying “love child,” but the arrival of a child does sometimes alienate the couple. Both partners work hard and don’t spend enough time with each other, and the additional children take up more of the physical and mental energy.
■ Frequent conflicts and clashes can cause you to drift apart.
Even the best couples fight, but marital conflict in itself doesn’t hurt a marriage; it’s the way two people face it and the way they resolve it that makes up the cause of marital problems.
■Extra-marital affairs are the root cause of divorce.
A variety of problems in married life can lead to divorce. Extramarital affairs often occur not because of sexual needs, but rather as an attempt to seek friendship, support, understanding, respect, attention, care, etc. in this way. If these things are not available from the family, one or both partners will look outside the marital relationship.
■ Sexual openness allows you to enjoy better sex.
Information about access to sex is readily available, yet that information makes it difficult for you to relax.