Social Acceptability of Objective and Subjective Reasons for Divorce in Modern Russia

Abstract

According to surveys conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation, over the 10 years from 2012 to 2022, the social acceptability of divorces in Russia has increased. Residents of the country have become more likely to recognize as valid all the reasons for divorce provided in the questionnaires of both surveys. When a husband or wife demands a divorce because of the inappropriate behavior of the other spouse (adultery, drunkenness, physical violence, etc.), the reason for the divorce is objective. If someone demands to terminate the marriage due to the fact that he does not love a spouse who has not violated the rules of family life, then the reason is subjective. Divorces for objective reasons destroy many families, but the social institution of the family is destroyed only when society also recognizes the subjective reasons for divorce as valid. After that, people no longer believe that the strength of marriage depends on their behavior in the family. This leads to a decrease in the number of marriages and the birth rate. To increase the effectiveness of measures to increase the birth rate, it is necessary to influence public opinion about the reasons for which a marriage can be dissolved. In addition, the divorce laws need to be changed. In cases of a dispute between former spouses about the division of property or about which of them will have children, the courts should take into account the guilt of the husband or wife in the divorce.