Divorce Is Contagious

[Book]

(CNN) -- Divorce is contagious in social networks, a new study says. The idea is based on the theory of social contagion, or the spread of behavior or emotion through a group. In this case, the heated feelings and actions of one person's divorce can be transferred like a virus, causing others to divorce, according to the study.

Not only can the risk of divorce spread from one couple to their friends or family, it can also affect relationships at least two degrees of separation away from the original couple splitting up, said James H. Fowler, a professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego.

Divorce Is Contagious (http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/06/10/divorce.contagious.gore/?hpt=Sbin)

:o

[Neuro]

Ever wondered why Hollywood stars get divorced so frequently?

[Ponce]

In what is to come we will see many divorces..........but..........even then they still will hve to live together due to the financial situation.

The above is the way that it works in Cuba because no single man can get a place to live on his own........the best thing to do is to find a girl living with her parents and move in with them.

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

Emotions are a projection of frequency from the brain/consciousness and frequencies always want to normalize among themselves. Emotions are contagious and that's a fact.

[bonaparte]

I feel sad for anybody who's life is shaped by what others around them are doing as opposed to what they decide they should do with their lives. I mean really, people are getting divorces because somebody else did? This is craziness.

[Horn]

In what is to come we will see many divorces..........but..........even then they still will hve to live together due to the financial situation.

The above is the way that it works in Cuba because no single man can get a place to live on his own........the best thing to do is to find a girl living with her parents and move in with them.


Sounds like a slice of heaven right there, Ponce.

My guess is overall filings will reduce due to the inability for people to simply afford the filing fees.

[Twisted Titan]

In what is to come we will see many divorces..........but..........even then they still will hve to live together due to the financial situation.

The above is the way that it works in Cuba because no single man can get a place to live on his own........the best thing to do is to find a girl living with her parents and move in with them.


Sounds like a slice of heaven right there, Ponce.

My guess is overall filings will reduce due to the inability for people to simply afford the filing fees.



And the fees will reduced to a pittance if not waived all together.


T

[Johnny Ringo]

Isn't that similar (if not the same) as group-think in the workplace?

I don't know. I used to go golfing on the weekends, bowl a couple times a week, and play poker with the guys at work quite a bit in my younger years. I guess I must have self-actualized on my social needs according to Maslow. These days, I don't socialize with anybody. I'm too damned busy, and I like my time to be mine. Maybe I'm just selfish.

What I never could understand were the people that have to be surrounded by others almost 24/7. I've known a few people like that - they're almost never alone (family doesn't count - in fact, to some of these people family doesn't even exist), and when they are alone, they whip out the phone and call somebody. BTW, I've observed this mostly with women. But then I'm not the most socially observant dude out there, either.

Now we have all these social networks to cut into even the most private times - now you're never alone. So it makes sense that people with this mentality will gravitate to these social networking sites, and will be more connected than ever to the emotions of their BFFs. And I suspect the spouse of a BFF is seen as competition for precious social time, promoting a mutual encouragement among the group to get rid of these "intruders."

Yeh, it's getting deep, but the OP topic is a very interesting hypothesis. Definitely plausible....

[Heimdhal]

Aint contagious enough. I been trying to catch it for years, but it has remained elusive. That old lady wont never leave!


Maybe if I catch chlamydia first.........




;D

[Quantum]

Ever wondered why Hollywood stars get divorced so frequently?


They're all narcissists?

[k-os]

Johnny Ringo, I am with you, 100% on your post.

I read another story not too long ago about how being obese is contagious in the same manner the original post suggests that divorce is contagious. This contagious obesity also applied to friends on social networking sites as well, interestingly enough.

My theory about so-called contagious obesity and divorce is that if something becomes socially acceptable (and by that I mean that "all your friends are doing it"), then you're more likely to be OK with it. If none of your friends or family members have been divorced, then it's still a little taboo. If all of your friends have been divorced, then it's more likely to be "no big deal" in your circle of friends.

Obviously this doesn't apply to everyone. There are strong minded people among us who are simply not influenced by the actions of the people around them. But it certainly helps to befriend healthy, happy people.

[Luis337]

for what it's worth,

in this city people post up little flyers here in store parking lots that say "Divorce! $250!"

probably the same in many other cities in the US. The state, being part of marriage, definitely makes
divorces a lot easier than god's law does.

[Book]

http://www.pwptoronto.com/images/who_we_are_pic.jpg

Why are they smiling?

:oo-->

[Liquid]

I think divorce is just a product of our 'replacable' society. When something stops working, we toss it, and get a new one. This goes for almost everything, tv's, electronics, cars, jobs, and even husband/wives.

We want it our way, now, and if it doesn't fit our perfect image of what it should be....we toss it. Not us on here of couse...:)

But society, in general. We've lost our sense of patience, collectively, and when that happens we also lose the strength to work through problems. We just get the next best thing.

People 50 years ago would have thought it crazy to get rid of a perfectly good cell phone, or working tv, for the latest one. But we do it all the time, to keep up with the Jones. To keep up with time, as it's moving lightning fast. Don't get left behind...

So, it's no wonder people replace people, to upgrade, or 'fix' the problem. When all your friends get i phones, there's pressure for you to get one too.

Anyway, I was born 100 years to late. I just can't stand this mentality, nor understand it, at all.

[k-os]

Nice post, Liquid.

[Ash_Williams]

Makes sense. I've known unhappy married people. One of the things holding them back was the stigma of a divorce. They'd have the "divorcee" label. Especially in older people, some think the stigma will be worse than their marriage is. Once someone in their social circle takes the risk and goes through with it, others in bad marriages will see the stigma is basically non-existent and will follow.

[SLV^GLD]

causing others to divorce
While I agree with the sentiments of Liquid and Johnny Ringo, I have to say this whole thing reeks of lack of personal responsibility. Nothing causes divorce except the failure of at least one of the two people in a marriage to actually try to keep the marriage together. It's that simple. Social networking is not to blame. Social woes in general are not to blame. Irresponsible, selfish people are to blame. They always are no matter what the problem, really.