On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in family law on Wednesday, January 24, 2018.
Many Missouri married couples may be interested to learn that the way that couples communicate could be a major predictor for divorce. One expert, for example, was able to identify four negative communication patterns that indicated that couples could soon be headed for divorce. They included contempt, criticism, defensiveness and stonewalling.
Of those, contempt appeared to be the most destructive due to the fact that it indicates that one or both spouses do not respect each other. Treating each other with contempt often includes destructive behaviors such as name-calling, hostile humor, eye-rolling and sneering. If there is no respect in the marriage, the bonds that hold the two people together could erode and cause problems during the actual divorce itself.
If the pattern of contempt is caught early enough, there is a chance that it could be reversed by having the couple work to build fondness and admiration towards each other. One way to do so is to talk about happy events that occurred in the past. This may include how the couple met and what their first impressions were of each other. Couples should also amend their way of thinking when it comes to their partner. For example, instead of focusing on what a spouse is doing wrong, a person should focus on and appreciate what the spouse is doing right.
Even if couples work together to try and save their marriage, there are cases where divorce ultimately becomes inevitable. When couples make the decision to start the divorce process, they will have to deal with property division and custody. A family law attorney can often be of assistance to a client who is trying to negotiate a settlement agreement that addresses these issues.
