There is a recent article in the Scientific American entitled Breaking Up which caused me some concern. It highlights worrisome unexpected changes that are arising as a result of climate change. In order to set it in perspective, it helps to understand some background information first.
In a world where separation and divorce are ever more common it is also interesting to note that marriage itself has experienced a drop in numbers per 1000 people worldwide – see graphic below. Admittedly this data stops at 2018 and who knows how much a pandemic will have altered the stats, it is a case of watching this space. However, there are already a few red flags as one leading British law firm, post-Covid, logged a 122% increase in enquiries on divorce from pre-Covid levels in just four months.
Certainly, it seems as if marriage numbers are dropping significantly across most countries. How about divorce? Well, the picture (see below) is a bit more varied with divorces per 1000 peaking in the US in 1980 and then falling whilst the other countries seem to show a steady increase in divorces. Even in countries where divorce is illegal or against religious principles the rate of divorce may be lower but is usually increasing.
Some studies have suggested that divorce levels actually fall during difficult economic conditions, simply because people cannot afford a divorce. Others have pointed out that additional stress of any kind, can contribute to divorce hence the jump in divorces post-holiday periods when couples are having to spend more time together than normal. But stress is difficult to ascertain even during a pandemic. In the US suicide levels from 2000-2018 rose by 30% but actually fell slightly during the pandemic years. However, it is complicated as there is considerable research indicating that past epidemics such as the Spanish Flu and severe acute respiratory syndrome led to increased suicide rates. Perhaps we are too close to this event to accurately predict outcomes. Although many, during this pandemic, were stressed about increasing levels of isolation at home there were others who actually relished the absence of bullying and stress in the school or workplace. It seems trying to understand stress levels via the divorce or suicide rate is too complicated in humans and a different cohort is required for clarity.
If we examine the animal species only 5% of mammal species are monogamous. Mammals that buck this trend and mate for life are Oldfield mice, dik-diks, titi monkeys, red and grey foxes, coyotes and grey wolves. Prairie voles take it to a different level, they split nest building and child-rearing equally with their partner and not only mate for life but even after the death of their life partner 80% never have another. Mind you how we learned about Praire voles and the strength of their bond with their partner is a depressing business. From this academic paper on Praire voles, it is strangely disturbing to read the following quote,
“Disruption of an established pair bond (between voles) leads to high levels of passive behavior (immobility) in the forced swim and tail suspension tests, a behavioral response reminiscent of grieving and bereavement in humans.”
To understand this line, you need to know what the forced swim test and tail suspension tests involve. The swim test involves the scoring of active (swimming and climbing) or passive (immobility) behaviour when vole are forced to swim in a cylinder from which there is no escape.
In the tail suspension test, the vole is hung from a tube by its tail for five minutes approximately 10 cm away from the ground. During this time the animal will try to escape and reach for the ground.
Strangely 90% of bird species are monogamous and it is largely because their young (like human babies) are tiny, helpless, and immature and require a lot of parental care.
Exceptionally strong bonds are found in lovebirds, Atlantic puffins, Bald eagles, albatrosses, geese, pigeons, black vultures, and scarlet macaws. In fact, when the geese’s mate is injured it will guard them protectively until they recover or die.
The article I referred to in the introduction in this year’s Scientific American was about the black-browed albatross who are socially monogamous as the pair alternate between lengthy foraging trips and egg-incubation duties. If their breeding is not successful in the course of a year a female albatross will leave and find a different mate. Such divorces have been noted for some time in the black-browed albatross which breeds on New Island on the Falkland Islands. There is now 15 years of breeding data available and this has been examined in relation to sea temperatures and wind strength. High winds allow for a greater distance of foraging while higher sea temperatures lower the nutrients available by reducing phytoplankton and subsequently the marine food web. Higher sea temperatures have been recently observed to increase stress levels among partnerships and decrease breeding success. As a result, in the warmer conditions more female albatrosses are leaving their life partners. The paper proposes an explanation it calls the ‘partner-blaming hypothesis’ which is when the female conflates stress caused by environmental conditions with poor performance by a partner. I suspect you know where I am going with this.
If stress can do this to a monogamous albatross population perhaps we should be more concerned about what stress is doing to our community. Whether stress comes as a result of climate change, a pandemic, or an economically challenging situation there are those out there who are already suffering. They may be trying to keep afloat in horrific conditions or find themselves suspended in a state of distress. Do what you can for those you encounter. These days are not kind to Prairie voles, albatrosses, or people.
“Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone, let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path.”
(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 15)
