PERCEIVED HAPPINESS OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE AMONG BLACK AND WHITE SPOUSES.

The article compares racial perceptions of happiness outside of marriage among Afro-Americans and White families. One concept that is often discussed in understanding these family behavioral and structural differences is that of alternatives. The argument frequently expressed is that the alternatives available to Afro-Americans and Whites differ substantially, resulting in differences in family structure. Interestingly, differences in socio-economic characteristics make relatively little difference in understanding the perceived attractiveness of such alternatives. However, therapists should be aware that there is an important racial difference in such perceptions. Even when Afro-American married spouses express the same amount of marital satisfaction as White married spouses, the alternatives to marriage look somewhat better. This factor may be one of the keys to understanding why Afro-American couples have a higher divorce rate than their White counterparts.