n more as the divorce rates rise.It is not surprising that many sources exist on the legal aspects of cohabitation since it is becoming widely accepted. Cohabitants often believe that economic benefits exist in cohabitation that do not in marriage such as having separate property and monetary situations. This retains the feeling of independence for cohabitants. However this argument is invalid once a couple obtains a joint account or purchases anything jointly. Also having separate finances is not an accurate portrayal of how the couple’s financial situation will be once they marry since they will be sharing everything at that point. These couples emphasize the importance of independence, however the increased feeling of separation produces the situation in which the cohabitants are less likely to be successful in their marriage since it requires the complete sharing of lives.Obviously, people decide to marry because they love and respect each other and choose to spend the rest of their lives together, happily. Happiness and contentment are major components of marriage that keep the bond strong. The independence that cohabitation produces depletes the support mechanism that produces much of the blissful happiness contained in a relationship. Women in cohabiting situations often feel that they are being used for sexual and housekeeping purposes only, which may cause anger and depression. When discussing cohabitation as an alternative to marriage Popenoe states that, "Annual rates of depression among cohabiting couples are more than three times what they are among married couples." He also explains that, "Some research has shown that aggression is at least twice as common among cohabitors as it is among married partners."("Should") This aggression leads to an unsafe environment for those who cohabit. Most couples who decide to cohabit are acting impulsively based on emotions without considering the prominent negative conse...
