Divorce is defined as the legal dissolution of marriage. A divorce rate is the number of divorcers per 100 of the population per annum. However, the only way to calculate divorce rate is by using statistics. Statistics are only "snap shots- and don't tell you how or why. The also don't take into account the "hidden iceberg."" Divorce may be the tip of the iceberg that you can actually see but what bout those people contemplating on getting a divorce. .
Divorce isn't the only indication on of marital breakdowns. What about: - .
Legal separations - where the partners are separated from each other but the marriage itself still carries on.
Desertion - where one of the partners leaves the household.
Empty Shell Marriages - where marriages go on but there are no romantic feelings between the partners.
These factors make it hard to actually calculate how many marriages are actually in jeopardy.
In this century the number of divorces has increased by 200% in Britain. After the Divorce Reform Act 1941 the number of divorces have doubled. We in Britain have the highest divorce rate in world. 1 in 3 marriages end in divorce. The marked peak of the increase in divorces was about 1945 at the end of World War 2.
This is because in Britain today there is a lot less social stigma put onto a divorce. Blame no longer needs to be assigned. Wilson (1966) argues that the decrease in social stigma, along with the increase in secularisation and decrease in religious values is the main cause of divorce. The idea of having a perennial marriage blessed by God is less significant now than before. Less than 50% or marriages are associated with religious ceremonies and those that are in a church may not be for religious purposes.
Also the attitude of divorce on children has changed. It used to be the norm to stay in a marriage for the sake of the children but now people tend to believe that it betters the children to have the parents divorce, rather than endure their parent's arguments.
