Divorce does not always happen because of issues such as infidelity or substance abuse. Over the long term, other issues that appear to be less serious can erode the foundation of a marriage and lead to divorce for couples in Washington. Certain behaviors can lead to long-term resentment, and this could mean couples engaging in sarcasm, passive aggressiveness and other damaging behaviors.
Avoiding conflict might seem like a positive thing, but conflict avoidance means that couples never resolve their differences. Some behaviors might seem innocuous but can add up to invalidating the other person’s feelings over time. People should be careful about contradicting their partner’s expressions of emotions.
Some relationships fail because of what happened to a person in previous relationships. People who are unable to overcome that trauma may begin to expect the same behaviors from a current partner, and that could lead to the end of the relationship.
Open communication is important. “Stonewalling” is the name for refusing to engage in an argument or conversation because of overwhelming emotion or for other reasons. Some couples fail to communicate effectively about finances. They may not share information, or they may have very different approaches to money. Other relationships fail because the two people grow apart and no longer have goals or interests in common.
These reasons for divorce may couples about how their split will go. People who have simply grown apart may have no ill will toward one another and might be able to negotiate a divorce agreement relatively amicably. On the other hand, couples who struggle with communicating or validating one another’s feelings may bring those same tendencies into negotiation, and this could cause problems. Some couples may be able to successfully negotiate an agreement through their attorneys. Others may be successful with a method of alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation or collaborative divorce.