Disscusion 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Disscusion 1 - Essay Example This negativity is what leads to cohabitation effect (which is an association between cohabitation and poor marital outcome) and what discourages some people (such as the staunch Christians, the aged or those who have had previous experience) from cohabiting. Commitment theory is used to explain and make people understand how cohabitation leads to divorce or even distress. The theory is divided into two commitments: the dedication and constraint commitments. Dedication commitment explains how couples who stay together have dreams and plans about their long term future and is also characterized by putting the needs of the other partner first. In cases of cohabitation, dedication is minimal and hence partners end up leaving each other. The constraint commitment on the other hand explains how there are forces in a relationship that facilitate people leaving or having unhappy relationships including values, children’s welfare and even social pressure. Premarital and marital counseling according to Hawkins (1991) insists on ensuring strong healthy relationship that is based on a long term commitment to a partner. It is the lack of this long term commitment (brought about by cohabiting which is not a long term commitment) that leads to break up of couples relationship and an increase in divorce cases. Premarital counseling advocates for communication when couples are in a relationship. This communication leads to deeper intimacy, love, understanding and having tolerance to each other and to the relationship issues in general. People in a cohabitation type of relationship do not feel committed and hence do not bother with issues of thinking and planning about the future let alone dedicate themselves to open communication. This sets up a bad example to others cohabiting or wanting to cohabit and hence the negative attitude towards this form of relationship. The negative