Couples often argue over asset division during divorce. In fact, it is one of the most contentious parts of divorce for many.
However, some people believe that it is possible to determine how much a couple might argue based on finances alone. Is this true?
The rate of fights in different wealth brackets
Business Insider discusses how couples argue in divorce and its relation to wealth. While it may seem possible to a degree to predict the vitriol behind a divorce on assets and wealth alone, studies show it may actually be more complex.
For example, upper-middle class couples fight more than anyone else. They even earned the nickname “the fighting class” from the media due to the high rates of disputes and terse divorces within this bracket.
However, even wealthier couples of over $5 million in net worth did not have the same trouble. In fact, they had more amiable divorces than any other wealth bracket.
How psychology impacts arguments
So how do these two pieces of information reconcile with each other? In essence, speculation indicates that wealth itself does not dictate the arguments in a couple’s divorce so much as how the couple feels about that wealth.
Couples with more money feel more financially secure. This financial security allows them to approach the divorce with less tension, fear, worry and apprehension. Ultimately, this may make amiable and collaborative divorces more possible.
On the other hand, even couples with a decent amount of wealth may feel financially insecure. This insecurity causes both members to want to hold on to as many assets as possible, thus fueling the fighting.