Question 1

Stephanie and Marlon got married yesterday, and their wedding was a festive party. A good time was had by all! If their marriage follows the typical path of most marriages, Stephanie and Marlon will experience the least marital satisfaction

Accepted Answer

Research and studies on marital satisfaction over time suggest that couples often experience a decline in marital satisfaction after having children. This is attributed to the increased stress, responsibilities, and changes in dynamics that come with parenting.

Question 2

When all is said and done, the most important thing to predicting the long-term success of a marriage is ______.

Accepted Answer

While religion, sex, and having children can all play important roles in a marriage, communication is widely recognized as the foundation for a successful, long-term relationship. Effective communication allows couples to work through conflicts and maintain a deep understanding of each other's needs and desires. Without strong communication skills, other factors become less significant in the face of ongoing disagreements or miscommunications.

Question 3

According to exchange theory, the key factor in determining whether an exchange will increase marital satisfaction is the

Accepted Answer

According to exchange theory, the perceived equity of an exchange is the key factor in determining whether it will increase marital satisfaction. This means that both partners in the exchange should feel that they are receiving a fair and balanced amount in relation to their contributions to the relationship. The other factors listed (length of time married, age of participants, and potential monetary cost) are not as significant in determining exchange satisfaction.

Question 4

The vulnerability-stress-________ model sees marital quality as a dynamic process resulting from the couple's ability to handle stressful events in the context of their particular vulnerabilities and resources.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The vulnerability-stress-________ model sees marital quality as...

Question 5

Larry and Isabelle have been married for just a couple of months, and have not yet had their first major argument. If their marriage is like most, the first major marital stress will center around

Accepted Answer

According to research and statistics, financial issues are the most common source of marital stress and conflict. Factors such as debt, differing spending habits, and disagreements about budgeting can all contribute to tensions within a marriage. While the other options listed may also cause conflict, financial issues tend to have the highest prevalence.

Question 6

How many of the following individuals would likely have the tendency to separate love and sex from each other?
(a) Richard, who is gay;
(b) Dominic, who is heterosexual;
(c) Marlene, who is heterosexual; and
(d) Bertina, who is a lesbian.

Accepted Answer

It is impossible to determine an individual's tendency to separate love and sex based on their sexual orientation. Therefore, we cannot make any assumptions about Richard, Bertina, or anyone else based solely on their sexual orientation. However, some individuals - regardless of sexual orientation - may be more inclined to separate love and sex, while others may see the two as interconnected. Therefore, it is possible that Dominic or Marlene (or both) have a tendency to separate love and sex from each other, making the best answer choice (B) two.

Question 7

Alicia and Jordan have an arrangement in their marriage that seems to work for them. Alicia is the "breadwinner," working full-time and earning an adequate salary to support the couple and their two children. Jordan is a stay-at-home father who is primarily responsible for taking care of the children and the home during the daytime. Each partner feels that the other contributes equally to their marriage, even though they contribute differently. According to ________ theory, their marriage is likely to be satisfying and happy.

Accepted Answer

Exchange theory posits that relationships are satisfying and stable when there is a balance of contributions, even if those contributions are different. In this scenario, Alicia and Jordan have a balanced exchange of contributions to their marriage, with Alicia providing financial support and Jordan taking care of the home and children.

Question 8

The lack of legal recognition of the relationship between same-sex couples means that such couples may be denied certain legal rights that are granted to heterosexual couples. How many of the following rights are noted by your authors as being those denied to same-sex couples?
(a) marriage;
(b) hospital visitation;
(c) certain insurance benefits; and
(d) level permission to share property ownership.

Accepted Answer

The authors note that same-sex couples are denied the rights of marriage, hospital visitation, and certain insurance benefits. They do not specifically mention property ownership, so only three of the listed rights are noted as being denied. Therefore, the best choice is C (three).

Question 9

Successful couples find a way to _________ in their relationship, and this is a very important determinant of marital satisfaction over longer periods of time.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Successful couples find a way to _________...

Question 10

Which of the following couples will have the lowest chance of having a marriage that lasts?

Accepted Answer

Couples who get married in their teenage years have statistically shown to have a higher likelihood of divorce.

Question 11

Your textbook notes that the median age of marriage has increased by several years in the last four decades. Which of the following is a benefit of this delayed entry into marriage?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that marrying later in life is associated with a lower risk of divorce, as individuals may be more mature and better prepared for the commitments of marriage.

Question 12

How has the median age of first marriage in the United States changed from 1970 to 2009?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How has the median age of first...

Question 13

When a marriage is interrupted by military deployment, both partners will be affected by the changes in circumstances. Which of the following is an accurate statement about such cases?

Accepted Answer

Research has found that divorce rates are higher for female service members who are deployed compared to their male counterparts. This may be due to a variety of factors, such as traditional gender roles and the unique challenges faced by women in the military. It is not accurate to say that beliefs about survival of separation are unrelated to the likelihood of the marriage lasting, as this is an important factor that may influence the couple's ability to cope with the deployment. The statement regarding the survival rate of military marriages lasting for more than 12 months is also incorrect, as research suggests that the majority of military marriages do survive deployments of this length. The statement regarding the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among wives who leave due to deployment is also not supported by research, as both men and women may experience PTSD as a result of their military service.

Question 14

Heather is only moderately happy with her marriage. Because of that, she is thinking about having a baby to make her marriage more satisfying. Is this a good idea?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that having a child typically decreases marital satisfaction due to the added stress and responsibilities that come with raising a child. Additionally, having a child solely to improve marital satisfaction is not a healthy or recommended solution to marital issues. Couples should address any problems in their relationship before making the decision to have a child.

Question 15

When they first got married, Marge and Irwin each had some individual behaviors that irritated the other. For example, Irwin would constantly leave his dirty socks on the bedroom floor, and this bothered Marge. Marge, on the other hand, always forgot to lock the front door when she came in the house. This drove Irwin up a tree! Twenty years later, however, Marge locks the door, and Irwin picks up his socks. This sort of change to accommodate a partner is called marital ________.

Accepted Answer

Marital adjustment refers to changes made by partners to accommodate each other's behaviors and preferences. In this case, Marge and Irwin adjusted their behaviors to better fit with each other, which ultimately led to a more successful and satisfying marriage. Quality and success are related terms, but do not capture the concept of adjustment as directly, and satisfaction may or may not have changed as a result of the adjustment.

Question 16

Although they generally get along well and love each other very much, Jeanie and Randall decide to seek marital counseling to strengthen their relationship. Their therapist begins by asking them both questions about things like work, finances, their children, their communication, their sex life, and other dimensions of their relationship. This therapist is assessing Jeanie and Randall's marital ________.

Accepted Answer

The therapist is assessing the quality of Jeanie and Randall's marriage, which includes various dimensions of their relationship such as communication, sex life, and financial stability. The other options, such as success, satisfaction, and adjustment, are also important aspects of a marriage but they may not fully encompass all the factors that the therapist is evaluating.

Question 17

Marital ________ is an umbrella term that refers to any marital outcome.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Marital ________ is an umbrella term that...

Question 18

According to ________ theory, marriages are most likely to be successful when each partner contributes something to the relationship that would be difficult for the other partner to provide.

Accepted Answer

Exchange theory highlights the importance of each partner contributing something unique to the relationship. This can include skills, resources, or emotional support. When each partner provides something that the other cannot easily provide, it creates a sense of interdependence and mutual benefit, which can improve relationship satisfaction and longevity.

Question 19

Of the following couples, which would you say would be the quickest to make a commitment and opt to cohabit the fastest?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that lesbian couples tend to move in together more quickly than heterosexual or gay male couples, often referred to as "U-Haul syndrome" in lesbian communities.

Question 20

The most common form of family in Western societies is the ________ family, which consists only of parents and children.

Accepted Answer

The nuclear family is the most common form of family in Western societies and consists only of parents and children. The associative family refers to a family in which people cooperate based on mutual interests, while the extended family includes additional relatives beyond parents and children. The blended family is a family composed of a couple and their children from this and all previous relationships.

Quiz 11: Being With Others: Forming Relationships in Young and Middle Adulthood