Divorce and Marriage 'infections'
By coffeeshot
@coffeeshot (3783)
Australia
July 6, 2010 8:58pm CST
No need to be alarmed by the subject line. I was watching TV before and they were talking about how marriage and divorce seems to happen in 'clusters'. That is, when one person gets married, their friends around them also tend to get married. Same with divorce. Have you noticed this? A reason for the divorce cluster is that when one person is divorced, his or her friends begin to think about what is wrong in their own relationships. I think this is dangerous and perhaps there is a correlation between the clusters of weddings and then the clusters of divorces. What do you think?
3 people like this
9 responses
@lacieice (2060)
• United States
7 Jul 10
hi coffeeshot
I think it depends on how big your circle of friends is. If you are in a very small group, a cluster may not happen, but if you have a large circle of friends, it's more likely that some will follow the leader.
There were a group of girls somewhere in New England who all decided that having a baby would be kool, so they all got pregnant at around the same time. I guess you could call that a cluster.
1 person likes this
@coffeeshot (3783)
• Australia
7 Jul 10
Yeah that would be quite a cluster! That is a purposeful cluster. I just hope each woman was financially and emotionally prepared for a child and it wasn't just a spur of the moment thing.
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
7 Jul 10
This is life, and everything in it. Pregnancies, and deaths and everything happens in clutters. Not only because people follow easy but because it's more noticeable when it happens to us. I think maybe they aren't happening more, just the clusters are being noticed more. I think knowing you are in a bad relationship and your friend gets divorced that might make you feel like it's okay to give up on your marriage also. It's not dangerous it's just a part of life. Some people follow and some lead.
1 person likes this
@coffeeshot (3783)
• Australia
7 Jul 10
True, I guess it is life. I think marriage can definitely be a trend, also to do with women's urges to settle down and have babies. They see their friend doing it and they yearn for it even more.
1 person likes this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
7 Jul 10
I agree they do happen in clusters and for the reasons you said. This is why when a friend or somebody close is going through a divorce, I stay away. I mean, I will be there for them but I truly try to keep the toxic at bay. I am very happy with my man.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
17 Jul 10
I think these social "scientists" can make any hypothesis they come up with seem feasible, but I have not noticed this. There used to be a lot of peer pressure on the young to get married, but this is not happening as much as it used to, at least not where I live.
I see no reason why people should question their relationships just because their friends are having difficulties.
@goddessjes (788)
• Philippines
7 Jul 10
hi there.
it's like a trend, huh? especially if one belongs to a group.
i think i belong the first description...stage of being married. am not getting married or what. however, my friends got married almost consecutively. we are 7 the group. and only two of us are left single. one got married, followed by the other, then followed by the next, then so on and so forth. but i guess everybody goes to that point especially we are all so adult and old enough to get married.
i just don't hope on divorce or failed marriages on my friends. they deserve happy marriages. 
@edwardjoy2000 (2387)
• United Arab Emirates
7 Jul 10
The rate of divorce has been increased...and has been increasing day by day...divorce has been creating an effect on everyone....the husband and wife and then the children as well. The children has been the more effected in the divorce of the husband & wife...
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
7 Jul 10
By coinsedence my parents got divorced around the same time two sets of neighbours divorced. In the case of the neighbours one husband and the other wife were having an affair, and that ended both marriages. The fact that it was the same time my parents divorced was justa coinsedence.
My cousin and I both married ourhusbands in 2007.
@chirag2006 (123)
• China
7 Jul 10
yes u r right in some cases but not all cases if u find someone is married u also want to married its just ur mentality u want that thing that u haven't so that's why u want to married if someone marry same way in divirce also happen so its part of life so dont worry about it and in other cases person cant influence by other so its not happen to all cases
