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COHABITATION

COHABITATION. “Why Buy the Cow, When You Can Get the Milk for Free?”. The Problem. Cohabitation violates the institute of marriage by lacking a true commitment. Cohabitation Living together in a sexual relationship without being married. Background Leading to the Problem.

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COHABITATION

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  1. COHABITATION “Why Buy the Cow, When You Can Get the Milk for Free?”

  2. The Problem Cohabitation violates the institute of marriage by lacking a true commitment. Cohabitation • Living together in a sexual relationship without being married

  3. Background Leading to the Problem • In 1960, of the 52,799,000 households, only 439,000 were unmarried cohabitants as opposed to 104,705,000 households in 2000. • In the 2000, there were 4,736,000 unmarried cohabitants in the United States.

  4. Reasons Given for Cohabitation • Economic advantages • “We can save money by sharing living expenses.” • Time together • “We are able to spend more time together.”

  5. Reasons for Cohabitation (cont.) • Increased intimacy • “We have more opportunities to share sexual and emotional intimacy without getting married.” • Less complicated dissolution • “If the relationship doesn’t work out, there is no messy divorce.”

  6. Reasons for Cohabitation (cont.) • “Testing” compatibility • “Living together enables us to better learn about each other’s habits and character and see how we operate together day-to-day.” • Trial marriage • “We are planning to marry soon.”

  7. New Info on Cohabitation • Cohabitation is on the rise for older individuals Reasons: • Avoid loss of financial benefits such as alimony, welfare, or pension checks • Loss of a spouse to death or divorce and fear of losing another spouse • Pain and anger as a result of a divorce

  8. Health Effects of Cohabitation • Increased risk of drug abuse • Higher risk of physical, emotional, and mental abuse • Unstable relationship • Higher overall rates of violence among cohabitors. • Violent relationship can lead to depression, suicide, homicide, or death.

  9. Possible Solutions • Do Not Cohabitate • Have faith in your relationship • Have high self-esteem • Legal Cohabitation Agreement • Entered into by unmarried person who live together • In agreement, the parties can agree with respect to acquisition, disposition of property upon separation, personal rights, obligation of either party, control of property, etc.

  10. Best Solution • Refrain from Cohabitation • Couples living together have the lowest level of premarital satisfaction when compared to other living arrangements. • Married couples that cohabitated prior to marriage have poorer communication skills in discussing problems than couples that did not cohabitate. • Cohabitating couples are less sexually committed and trustworthy.

  11. Summary • Cohabitation rates increased from 500,000 in 1970 to 5.5 million people cohabitating in 2000 • 60-75% of first marriages preceded by cohabitation • 80-85% of re-marriages preceded by cohabitation

  12. Summary • Delay of marriage until median age of 25 for females and 27 for males • Concern over continuing high rates of divorce has led to couples seeking a weaker form of union with less commitment to lifelong marriage

  13. Summary • Several studies show that cohabitating increases the risk of drug use and physical, mental , and emotional abuse. • Overall rates of violence in cohabitating couples were double that of married couples and severe violence was 5 times higher for cohabitors.

  14. Summary • Cohabitating couples have lower levels of personal happiness and higher rates of depression than married couples • Cohabitors have more negative attitudes about marriage than non-cohabitors.

  15. Summary • Do Not Cohabitate • Best solution • Marriages preceded by cohabitation are more likely to end in divorce. • Cohabitation is generally not a good way to prepare for marriage or to avoid divorce. • Legal Cohabitation Agreement

  16. “The Bottom Line” • Lack of commitment to marriage • A strong commitment is the basis of marriage. • Cohabitating couples are more oriented toward their own personal autonomy. • Cohabitors are more willing to terminate the relationship. • Inability to make a decision about marriage • Cohabitation reflects uncertainty.

  17. The End Result • Continuing to cohabitate will continue to raise the divorce rate for couples who do get married after cohabitation. • Cohabitation increases the chances of having children out of wedlock. • Ending the cohabitation and divorce will result in single parent homes.

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