Week 10: Marriage and Cohabitation
Read Chapter 8
Discussion Question: What makes the difference between marriages that are happy/successful and those that are not?
Use the link below to listen to a 20-minute talk by Stephanie Coontz who discusses what makes an ideal marriage.
After listening, answer the following:
For the first half, Coontz discusses how marrying for love is a radical idea and how expectations for marriage have changed throughout history. Choose one point Coontz makes related to this topic and discuss your thoughts about that point.
In the second half of the talk, Coontz discusses some studies that address what makes marriages last and what contributes to marital satisfaction. What are three of the elements that make for lasting or satisfying marriages according to these studies? What do you think about the results of the studies? Explain.
