Procedia

- Social and
Behavioral
Sciences
Procedia - Social
and Behavioral
Sciences
30 (2011)
894 00
898(2011) 000000

Procedia
Social and
Behavioral
Sciences
www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia

WCPCG-2011

Need for cognition and problem solving styles in divorce applicant

couples and normal couples
Rahele Mohammadia , Khalil Alizadeha, Maryam Sedaghatb
a

Kooshyar research center, Atieh Hospital, Farahzadi Ave., Tehran, Iran

b
ACECR, Jalal Al e Ahmad Ave., Nassim St., Tehran 14155-6456 Iran

Abstract
The increasing rate of divorce in Iran has prompted concern amongst professionals in various fields. In present study, some
probable causes of getting divorce, and the differences the need for cognition and problem solving styles between applicator
couples of divorce and normal couples was examined. 200 participants including 100 couples of applicator divorce and 100 nonapplicator couples. Participants responded to a questionnaire consisting of two sections: need for cognition and problem solving
styles. The results indicated that the two groups had significant differences in helplessness, problem solving control, and problem
solving confidence but in creativity style, avoidance style, and approach style. It was also shown that there was not significant
difference between the two groups in need for cognition. Furthermore, the results revealed that most common problem solving
styles among the participants were avoidance, approach and creativity respectively. With regard to the result, it cannot be claimed
that that applicator couples of divorce use unproductive problem solving styles more than normal couples did.
Keywords: divorce, need for cognition, Problem solving style.

1. Introduction
Marriage is a fundamental human relationship and has basic functions such as production, regular coitus,
socialization, physical, and financial support of the growing children (Bilton et al, 1981). There is a positive
correlation between duration and satisfaction of marriages, and mental and physical health and life time (Waite,
1995). These positive results just appear in those families that the amount of conflicts is not high (Amato & Booth;
1997) and family is not involved in problems due to couples mental health (Sanders, 1995; Halford & Markham,
1997). In fact, marriage is a pleasant relationship but research has shown marital satisfaction is not achieved easily
(Rosen-Grandon, et al 2004). So it will be useful to detect factors that lead marriage to divorce or improve and
confirm it. Various factors may be effective in the decision to divorce. Many Studies investigate the risk factors
associated with the collapse of marriages (Stevenson, & Wolfers, 2007; Clarke & Berrington, 1999; Wolcott &
Hoghes, 1999; Ono, 1998). Various intrapersonal and interpersonal mechanisms lead to marital satisfaction; these
mechanisms are overt communicational behavior, emotions, physiology and personality (Gatman, 1994). Jacobson

Rahele Mohammadi. Tel.: +98-21-88367182; fax: +98-21-88243710. E-mail address: msedaghat@icds.ir

This paper has been supported financially by Kooshyar Research Center, Atieh Hospital

1877-0428 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the 2nd World Conference on Psychology,
Counselling and Guidance.
doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.173

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and Margolin (1979) observed that disturbed couples are facing more difficulties to resolve problems satisfactorily.
When a problem is appearing, satisfied couples discuss about it and pay attention to each others view point and
trying to neutrally solve the problems (Gatman, 1994), but unhappy couples fight (Ledere & Jacobson, 1968) or
apparently ignored the problem and do not talk about it. In complex world which people are experiencing new
phenomenon and conflicts, thinking and problem solving skills seem to be very useful in processing and coping with
a new event and resolve it correctly. Those with sufficient skills for problem solving can manage life full of concern
and conflict management and avoid the various crises and the collapse of the life.
The need for cognition and information processing during problems is important (Day et al, 2007). Need for
cognition refers to the tendency to engage in and enjoy effortful cognitive activities (Cacciopo, and petty, 1982).
Individuals high in need for cognition are more likely to exert the cognitive effort necessary to process the
substantive merits of the information to which they are exposed than individuals who are low in need for cognition
(Cacciopo et al, 1996).. Those who obtain high score on this scale tend to think more and develop and interpret data,
while individuals with low scores wish to avoid cognitive activities (Culhane et al, 2004). Ghorbani et al (2003)
reported the relationship between self knowledge and the need for cognition which suggests the important role of
this variable in the personality integrity and mental health. Perkins and Tishman (1998) suggest the thinking
dispositions which include need for cognition, are not neuronal structures in the brain, but they are cultural
phenomena. Dispositions are the results of interactions between beliefs, values and norms. If the result confirms the
hypothesis that divorce applicant individual lack these thinking dispositions, they can be taught to individuals to
prevent the incidence of divorce. This study aims to answer this question that what is the role of need for cognition
and problem solving methods in sustainability marriage.
2. Method
2.1. Subjects: 170 people which are composed of 79 people of couples that agreed to apply for divorce were
referred to a psychologist for divorce process, and 91 normal couples who never think about divorce.
2. 2. Measures
2.2.1. The need for cognition scale: NCS, with 18 items was published in 1984 by Cacciopo, Petty, Cave. This
questionnaire is designed based on a six degrees Likert scale is scoring and only have one factor and half of the
items are scoring reversely. This scale is without gender bias, and women and men are not different from each other.
Cacciopo, Petty and Cave (1982) reported the Cronbach's alpha 0.9.
2.2.2. Problem solving style inventory: This scale designed by Cassidy, & Long (1996) during two phases
containing 24 questions which measures six factors and each factor includes 4 items. The factors include
helplessness, control, creative style, confidence, avoidance styles, and finally approach style. All sub-scale alpha
coefficients are higher than 0.50, indicating this scale is a reliable and valid measure for assessing problem solving.
2.3. Procedure: 100 people who were referred by the Family Court to a psychologist for counseling before the
divorce filled out questionnaires. The psychologist asks them to fill questionnaires and if they were illiterate,
questions were asked and their responses were recorded. Finally, 79 participants filled the questionnaires. Through
available sampling, 100 couples, not thinking of divorce, were chosen. In this way, 91 questionnaires were gathered
from the participants.

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3. Results
51.9 % of divorce group were women and 46.8% were men. The mean age of the divorce applicant group was 28
years. Concerning education status, 41% of the participants had degrees below diploma, 33% of them had diploma
and 26% had college education. Average age of marriage was three years in this group. 51.6% of normal group were
women and 48.4% were men. The mean age of this group was 33.5. Concerning education status, 23% of the
participants had degrees below diploma, 38.5% had high school diploma and 38.5% had college education. Average
age of marriage was eight years in this group. As Table 1 shows there is a significant difference between age and
education among individuals applied for divorce and couples who had no intention to divorce. In other words,
divorce
applicant
couples
have
lower
education
and
age
mean.
Table 1. t-test results for age and education level in groups
variable
age

education

group

index

mean

Standard deviation

Divorce applicant couples

27.56

6.17

Normal couples

33.54

7.32

Divorce applicant couples

2.79

0.89

Normal couples

3.11

0.86

T
-5.68

-2.34

Df

167

0.000***

165

0.021*

Main causes of divorce are: lack of moral, cultural and family understanding 68%, lack of maturity and lack of
life skills 38%, forced marriage and lack of interest in spouse 24%, infidelity 20%, addiction, 14%, sexual problems
9% and financial problems 8%. Because of the relationship between the need for cognition and education (r= 0.59,
p< 0.001), the analysis of variance was used to compare two groups in the need for cognition by controlling the
education effect. As the table 2 shows by controlling the education effect, there is no significant difference in the
for
cognition
in
the
two
groups.
need
Table 2. ANOVA results is to compare two groups in the need for cognition by controlling the education effect
Source of variance
Group
Error

SS
265.116

Df
1

MS
265.116

18557.797

166

111.794

F
2.371

P
0.125

There is a significant correlation between various subscales of problem solving and also between various ways of
problem solving and education. So, multivariate analysis of variance was used to consider the second hypothesis and
control the education and the results in Tables 3 and 4 are shown.
Table 3. Descriptive data in different ways of problem solving in groups
Problem solving strategies

group

Helplessness

Control
Creativity

Mean

Standard deviation

divorce

2.75

2.24

77

Normal

1.20

1.49

90

divorce
Normal
divorce
normal

3.49
2.58
5.40
5.50

1.91
1.93
2.48
2.13

77
90
77
90

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Confidence

Divorce
normal

4.17
3.76

1.21
1.77

77
90

Avoidance

Divorce

4.57

2.02

77

normal

3.98

2.00

90

Approach

divorce
normal

6.03
6.62

1.77
1.67

77
90

MANOVA test results showed that all multivariate tests are significant (F= 6.24 , p< 0.001). So the underlying
assumptions for the analysis of variance test exist.

Table 4. results of analysis of variance of different ways of problem solving in general population and divorce applicant couples with
controlling education
Source of variance
Group
Error
Group
Error
Group
Error
Group
Error
Group
Error
Group
Error

Dependent variable

SS

Df

MS

helplessness

72.83
537.48
21.7
576.43
5.03
663.72
14.89
346.02
12.07
662.11
9/78
465.27

1
163
1
163
1
163
1
163
1
163
1
163

72.83
3.30
21.7
3.54
5.03
4.07
14.89
2.12
12.07
4.06
9/78
2.85

22.09

0.000***

6.14

0.014*

1.24

0.268

7.01

0.009**

2.97

0.087

3.43

0.066

Control
creativity
Confidence
avoidance
Approach

As table4 shows ways of helplessness, control and confidence in problem solving are significantly different
between two groups. All the above three ways are used more in divorce applicant group. The ways of helplessness
and control are non-constructive problem-solving ways and confidence is constructive.
4. Discussion
The results of the study showed that the age and educational level of divorce applicant is lower compared to
couples whose are not prone to divorce. However, it is noticed that people who get married in low ages are less
educated and skilled regarding personal and inter-personal resources. The result also reveals that people in low ages
are not financially independent. These underlying issues can bring conflicts into the marital life of the couple and
they are less capable to find effective solution for the potential coming problems of their life (Kurdek, 1993, Waite,
1990). These groups of people are not enough mature and experienced to identify and detect their emotional needs
and dominant changing values of the society to prevent maladjustment (Kurdek, 1993; Gottman, 1994; Wallerstein,
1996). The data also reported that divorce applicants with academic education (M=75, Sd=7) have higher needs for
cognition compared to normal couples and it is statistically significant (M=69, Sd=11,). Also two groups are
significantly different regarding their problem-solving strategies in helplessness, control, and confidence. These
three strategies are more applied among divorce applicants. Helplessness and control are non-constructive ways of
problem solving and confidence is a constructive strategy. The two non-constructive strategies often make the
problems more complex and may lead to the collapse of relationship. But confidence and need for cognition in
divorce group is a notable point. Social issues, difficult condition and limitations resulting from family ties and
marriage among some educated couples may lead to lack of tolerance among couples who have more need for
4

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Social
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30 (2011)
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cognition and confidence. Some experts believe that despite emotional divorce between couples, they prefer not to
separate. One reason could be lack of confidence and fear of divorce and its consequences. Several studies
suggested the reasons of marital dissatisfaction in general categories of lack of understanding, lack of interest in
spouse and sexual problems. The category of understanding has included cultural, religion, communicational, value
differences. Iranian society is passing from tradition to modernity and behavioral values systems of some individuals
and families have been changed but some are still committed to social values and old customs. Thus, conflict
between two people from two different families or even from one family is inevitable and resolving such conflicts
requires skill, maturity and patience. In such societies, couples have different views on gender roles of spouse,
expenditure of money, nurturing children, care of elderly parents, etc. As noted 43% of the participants of this study
seem to lack sufficient maturity and skill and could not solve problems and conflicts and 68% of divorces have
occurred due to lack of understanding. These findings are Consistent with findings of some researchers, such as
McDonald (1988). Since the results of this study dont confirm the use of unconstructive methods of divorce or lack
of the need to cognition and thinking avoidance is not related to divorce, future research should focus on other
internal variables such as motives, needs satisfaction, beliefs and characteristics and personality traits.
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