This is at least in part due to changes in legislation that now allow people to divorce even if their partner doesn't consent. This is a great thing, of course, because you shouldn't be forced to stay in an unhappy or abusive marriage. That said, divorce coach and marriage educator Cathy Meyer offers some reasons based on her professional experience: People try solving marital problems on their own rather than working together as a couple; Couples think there should be no fighting or criticism in a relationship, so they get resentful when a fight breaks out. They have a hard time seeing discussions as a healthy thing and cultivating forgiveness; People have a hard time yielding to their partner, seeing the other person as an enemy competing for control; Infidelity. Pretty self-explanatory; Marriages are viewed as a disposable product rather than something that needs to be worked on; Unrealistic expectations of marriage.