Childhood Photo Characteristics Linked To Divorce Likelihood

 Posted on November 22, 2013 in Divorce

Could your yearbook photo really give you clues about your likelihood to divorce? According to a recent study from DePauw University psychology professor Matthew Hertenstein, the answer is yes. Your smile in childhood photos, according to the study, can be telling for your potential for future marital bliss. The study, which is revealed in the professor’s new book, shows that individuals who smiled broadly in childhood photos were more likely to become members of lengthy marriages. This was compared with individual who smiled weakly or not at all in their childhood photos, who tended to have shorter marriages. The research team used a few hundred photos from college yearbooks to make the connection by determining how much people smiled in those photos. Those who smiled least in their college yearbook photos were five times more likely to be divorced when compared with those who smiled the most. Hertenstein believes that it all comes down to compliance: people who smiled broadly in photos were more likely to obey the photographer’s orders to “cheese” it up in the photo. Hertenstein argues that compliance and obedience are crucial for marriage success and that this explains why the bigger smilers had better success in marriage. It could also be argued that those who smile more in photos are simply happier in life and that they approach marital issues with a better disposition to start with. In this case, a positive outlook can go a long way towards happiness. Unfortunately, not all marriages are happy and long-lasting. A myriad of issues may have affected your marriage, regardless of whether you smiled or not in childhood photos. If you believe that it’s time to end your marriage and begin a new life, you need to speak with a knowledgeable Illinois family attorney to learn what to expect and to begin the process.