Research Foundation

PicklePromise is built on decades of peer-reviewed research across relationship science, family psychology, legal outcomes, and demographic studies.

Four Evidence Streams

Gottman Research

Dr. John Gottman's 40+ years of research identified four interaction patterns that predict relationship dissolution with 90%+ accuracy in longitudinal studies.

Contempt

Sarcasm, mockery, moral superiority, eye-rolling

Criticism

Attacking character vs. addressing specific behaviors

Defensiveness

Denial, counter-attacks, deflection, victimization

Stonewalling

Withdrawal, shutdown, silent treatment

Key Finding: Contempt is the single strongest predictor of divorce. When contempt becomes habitual, relationships rarely recover without professional intervention.

Longitudinal Studies

Multi-decade studies tracking children and adults post-divorce reveal persistent patterns in emotional, behavioral, and relationship outcomes.

Wallerstein Research (25-Year Study)

• Children of divorce show lasting effects into adulthood
• Impact on trust, attachment patterns, relationship formation
• Elevated anxiety around commitment and conflict

Amato Meta-Analyses

• Systematic review of hundreds of studies
• Documented long-term psychological and behavioral effects
• Identified protective vs. risk factors

Hetherington Research

• 6-year longitudinal study of 1,400 families
• Outcomes vary by conflict level and co-parenting quality
• High-conflict divorces show worst child outcomes

Key Finding: Effects persist 10-15 years post-divorce. The first 2 years are most critical for children's adjustment.

Demographic Research

Large-scale population studies identify structural and demographic factors correlated with divorce rates across thousands of marriages.

•Age at marriage: Marriages before age 25 show 2x divorce rates

•Prior divorce: Second marriages fail at 60-67% (vs. 40-50% for first marriages)

•Blended families: Third marriages fail at 73-74%

•Courtship length: Relationships under 18 months show higher dissolution rates

•Education mismatch: Significant education gaps correlate with conflict patterns

•Financial stress: Money conflicts are among top 3 divorce triggers

Key Finding: These are correlations, not causes. Many marriages with these factors succeed; they represent elevated statistical risk.

Legal & Institutional Research

Family court outcomes, custody patterns, and financial enforcement data reveal gaps between public expectations and legal realities.

Custody Patterns

• Courts do NOT default to 50/50 custody in most jurisdictions
• Primary custody typically awarded to one parent (historically mothers)
• Visitation schedules vary widely by jurisdiction and judge

Financial Enforcement

• Child support compliance rates vary 60-70% nationally
• Enforcement mechanisms differ by state
• Modification processes can take months or years

Property Division

• Community property vs. equitable distribution varies by state
• Retirement accounts, businesses, debt often disputed
• Legal costs average $15,000-$30,000 per party

Key Finding: Most people dramatically underestimate both the complexity and unpredictability of family court outcomes.

Documented Divorce Outcomes

For Children

•Reduced father-child contact in 60-70% of cases (Amato, 2014)
•Increased behavioral and emotional problems in first 2 years (Hetherington, 2002)
•Long-term effects on attachment and relationship formation (Wallerstein, 2000)
•Academic performance impacts vary by age and support systems

For Adults

•30% average drop in living standards for primary caregivers
•Persistent emotional distress documented 10+ years post-divorce
•Increased depression and anxiety rates
•Retirement savings severely impacted

Research Limitation

These findings represent population-level averages. Individual experiences vary significantly based on conflict level, co-parenting quality, financial resources, and support systems. High-conflict divorces show worse outcomes than low-conflict divorces across all metrics.

How PicklePromise Uses This Research

1. Evidence-Based Domains

Each assessment domain directly maps to validated research streams. We don't invent risk factors—we identify patterns documented in peer-reviewed literature.

2. Correlative, Not Predictive

We measure correlation with population patterns, not individual prediction. Your score reflects research patterns, not your destiny.

3. Transparent Methodology

All scoring logic is versioned, auditable, and explained. No "black box" algorithms. No machine learning. No hidden variables.

4. Neutral Framing

We avoid gendered blame narratives and moralistic language. Risk factors are presented as patterns, not character flaws.

Key Citations

Gottman, J. M., & Silver, N. (1999). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.New York: Crown Publishers.

Wallerstein, J. S., Lewis, J. M., & Blakeslee, S. (2000). The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce.New York: Hyperion.

Amato, P. R. (2014). The consequences of divorce for adults and children: An update. Društvena istraživanja, 23(1), 5-24.

Hetherington, E. M., & Kelly, J. (2002). For Better or For Worse: Divorce Reconsidered.New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

Bramlett, M. D., & Mosher, W. D. (2002). Cohabitation, marriage, divorce, and remarriage in the United States. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Statistics, 23(22).

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