<p>This answer speaks mostly to the relationship between personality characteristics/disorders and divorce.</p>

<p>From the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire, it seems that Positive Emotionality and Negative Emotionality were positively related to divorce risk, while Constraint was negatively related (Jockin, Mcgue, &amp; Lykken, 1996). Note that this study also looks at genetic factors, and finds that “In women and men, respectively, 30% and 42% of the heritability of divorce risk consisted of genetic factors affecting personality, and personality and divorce risk correlated largely as a result of these common genetic influences.”</p>

<p>From a bit of a different perspective, other studies have assessed the relationship between divorce and personality disorders:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Multiple regression analyses showed Paranoid and Histrionic personality disorder symptoms to be consistently and positively associated with number of divorces across all three sources of personality assessment. Conversely, Avoidant personality disorder symptoms were negatively associated with number of divorces (Disney, Weinstein, &amp; Oltmanns, 2012).</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I'll note that the Jockin, Mcgue, and Lykken study is rather old (contextually), and that the relationships that were clear 20 years ago may be different today.</p>

<p>Finally, though not related specifically to divorce, there is a nice article out there that attempts to illustrated differences in personalities for those looking for short-term vs. long-term relationships (Holtzman &amp; Strube, 2013). This article specifically addresses an "array of personality traits (Big 5, Dark Triad, and Schizoid Personality)". A bit tangentially related, but perhaps of interest.</p>

<p><strong>References</strong></p>

<p>Disney, K. L., Weinstein, Y., &amp; Oltmanns, T. F. (2012). Personality Disorder Symptoms Are Differentially Related to Divorce Frequency. Journal of Family Psychology, 26(6), 959–965. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030446" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030446</a></p>

<p>Holtzman, N. S., &amp; Strube, M. J. (2013). Above and Beyond Short-Term Mating, Long-Term Mating is Uniquely Tied to Human Personality. Evolutionary Psychology, 11(5), 1101–1129. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/147470491301100514" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1177/147470491301100514</a></p>

<p>Jockin, V., Mcgue, M., &amp; Lykken, D. T. (1996). Personality and Divorce: A Genetic Analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 7(2), 288–299. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.71.2.288" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.71.2.288</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-17T23:07:30.953Z
2017-06-05T20:44:34.710Z
2017-06-05T20:44:34.710Z
mflo-ByeSE
<p>I've read quite a few statistics about divorce (sources <a href="https://www.mckinleyirvin.com/Family-Law-Blog/2012/October/32-Shocking-Divorce-Statistics.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> and <a href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2013/article/marriage-and-divorce-patterns-by-gender-race-and-educational-attainment.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>), and biggest factors seems to be:</p>

<ol>
<li>Culture - from 71% in Belgium to 2-3% in some traditional societies</li>
<li>Income of the couple</li>
<li>Ratio of the woman's income to the man</li>
</ol>

<p>Other factors such as education and whether they come from divorced family also plays a big factor.</p>

<p>But what are some behavioral characteristic that have the biggest impact?
For example are shy people less likely to get divorced controlled for everything else? Do people who had less sexual partners in their lifetime are less likely?
 Introverts or extroverts? Which of the 5 big personality traits predict best (Conscientiousness, ‎Openness to experience, ‎Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Extraversion)?
I want some respected studies video lectures very much appreciated :)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-11T18:05:20.060Z
Hi Goking. Welcome at CogSci. Your question is very interesting, but do you have any references to back up your initial statements about culture, income etc?
Robin Kramer-ten Have
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-12T20:23:14.127Z
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce_demography
https://www.mckinleyirvin.com/Family-Law-Blog/2012/October/32-Shocking-Divorce-Statistics.aspx
Goking
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-12T20:24:05.130Z
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce_demography

https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2013/article/marriage-and-divorce-patterns-by-gender-race-and-educational-attainment.htm
Goking
<personality>
What are the personality and behavioural correlates of divorce?
Goking
# What are the personality and behavioural correlates of divorce?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-05-11)

I've read quite a few statistics about divorce (sources [here](https://www.mckinleyirvin.com/Family-Law-Blog/2012/October/32-Shocking-Divorce-Statistics.aspx) and [here](https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2013/article/marriage-and-divorce-patterns-by-gender-race-and-educational-attainment.htm)), and biggest factors seems to be:

1. Culture - from 71% in Belgium to 2-3% in some traditional societies
2. Income of the couple
3. Ratio of the woman's income to the man

Other factors such as education and whether they come from divorced family also plays a big factor.

But what are some behavioral characteristic that have the biggest impact?
For example are shy people less likely to get divorced controlled for everything else? Do people who had less sexual partners in their lifetime are less likely?
Introverts or extroverts? Which of the 5 big personality traits predict best (Conscientiousness, ‎Openness to experience, ‎Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Extraversion)?
I want some respected studies video lectures very much appreciated :)

**Tags:** personality

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hi username_0. Welcome at CogSci. Your question is very interesting, but do you have any references to back up your initial statements about culture, income etc?  
> **username_0**: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce_demography https://www.mckinleyirvin.com/Family-Law-Blog/2012/October/32-Shocking-Divorce-Statistics.aspx  
> **username_0**: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce_demography  https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2013/article/marriage-and-divorce-patterns-by-gender-race-and-educational-attainment.htm  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-05-17. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

This answer speaks mostly to the relationship between personality characteristics/disorders and divorce.

From the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire, it seems that Positive Emotionality and Negative Emotionality were positively related to divorce risk, while Constraint was negatively related (Jockin, Mcgue, & Lykken, 1996). Note that this study also looks at genetic factors, and finds that “In women and men, respectively, 30% and 42% of the heritability of divorce risk consisted of genetic factors affecting personality, and personality and divorce risk correlated largely as a result of these common genetic influences.”

From a bit of a different perspective, other studies have assessed the relationship between divorce and personality disorders:

> Multiple regression analyses showed Paranoid and Histrionic personality disorder symptoms to be consistently and positively associated with number of divorces across all three sources of personality assessment. Conversely, Avoidant personality disorder symptoms were negatively associated with number of divorces (Disney, Weinstein, & Oltmanns, 2012).

I'll note that the Jockin, Mcgue, and Lykken study is rather old (contextually), and that the relationships that were clear 20 years ago may be different today.

Finally, though not related specifically to divorce, there is a nice article out there that attempts to illustrated differences in personalities for those looking for short-term vs. long-term relationships (Holtzman & Strube, 2013). This article specifically addresses an "array of personality traits (Big 5, Dark Triad, and Schizoid Personality)". A bit tangentially related, but perhaps of interest.

**References**

Disney, K. L., Weinstein, Y., & Oltmanns, T. F. (2012). Personality Disorder Symptoms Are Differentially Related to Divorce Frequency. Journal of Family Psychology, 26(6), 959–965. <https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030446>

Holtzman, N. S., & Strube, M. J. (2013). Above and Beyond Short-Term Mating, Long-Term Mating is Uniquely Tied to Human Personality. Evolutionary Psychology, 11(5), 1101–1129. <https://doi.org/10.1177/147470491301100514>

Jockin, V., Mcgue, M., & Lykken, D. T. (1996). Personality and Divorce: A Genetic Analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 7(2), 288–299. <https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.71.2.288>


---

