Synonyms
Civil union; Couple; Matrimony; Partnership; Relationship; Union; Wedding; Wedlock
Introduction
Options for romantic relationships are at an all-time high in the Westernized world. Couples now commonly date, cohabitate, and marry in heterosexual or same-sex relationships, with varying levels of agreed upon commitment (monogamous or polyamorous). However, legal marriage remains a valued goal for the majority, although there is substantial diversity in ideals around preferred types of relationships. Marriage is a highly sought after goal for many who long for a close relationship with another person to share their life with. The perceived value of marriage has gone up in recent decades, as it has been historically denied to some (e.g., interracial marriage, same-sex marriage), and as many prefer to wait until they have completed their education or are financially independent before they feel prepared for marriage. This has become especially salient among lower-income couples who...
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Durtschi, J., Brown, C., Beck, A. (2019). Marriage. In: Lebow, J.L., Chambers, A.L., Breunlin, D.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_503
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_503
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