As the first comprehensive volume to explore how marriages develop and deteriorate, The Developmental Course of Marital Dysfunction brings together leading scholars to present recent research on the longitudinal course of marriage. The chapters share a common focus on the early phases of marriage but address a diverse array of topics, including marital conflict, personality, social support, the transition to parenthood, violence, ethnicity, stress, alcohol use, commitment, and sexuality. Implications of this research for alleviating marital distress are also noted. The book concludes with six provocative analyses by prominent scholars in the areas of sociology, clinical psychology, social psychology, and developmental psychology.