Why are so many people getting divorced?

The concept of a "partner for life," or marrying someone with the expectation that they're thoroughly committed to you and vice versa, almost seems a little outdated nowadays. Why do you think this is? The divorce rate seems ridiculous nowadays. Granted, not everyone really means it when they take their vows "till death do us part," but I'm pretty sure most of those people didn't start off intending to divorce at some point in the future. Yes, circumstances change, but are people often not 100% committed to their marriages, even at the outset? In particular: why do you believe the divorce rate has gone up? And does anyone else agree that it's a bad thing if people aren't "partners for life" yet still have kids? (The effects of even very "amiable" divorces on children are well-documented). (Mods, sorry if this is the wrong forum - created a similiar thread in Society but wasn't sure if it should be here instead as marriage is a relationship)

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