Can Fighting Patterns Really Predict Divorce?

With divorce as common as it is in America today, couples are often looking for ways to help their marriages survive the odds. There is plenty of information and helpful tips out there that can give couples the tools to assist them in keeping their marriage strong. Whether or not these tips and helpful suggestions are being used by couples and/or actually reducing the divorce rate is undetermined.

There are plenty of studies that attempt to explain why couples get divorced, or determine what patterns of marital behavior give rise to the likelihood of divorce. A new study by a Baylor University Researcher indicates that the way in which a couple fights may determine whether their marriage will stand the test of time. In his studies he notes that all couples fight, but how the couple communicates and resolves conflict can be a huge factor in whether a particular couple eventually get a divorce. Its certainly not news to me that couples who don't communicate well are more likely to end up in divorce court, but what is interesting to me is that fighting styles may be a link to divorce. Perhaps if couples learned how to fight effectively, their communication will improve and they will, therefore, stay married. While the study is very clinical, and people may not be able to help how they feel during an argument, nevertheless, its an interesting study worth bringing to every one's attention.

If you would like to read about the Baylor study, see the following link: http://www.baylor.edu/pr/news.php?action=story&story=43941