Changing climate linked to changing partners

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. 

The time it takes until it remains immobile is measured.  So, to sum up, in order to measure the stress and distress felt by separating a prairie vole from its life partner, it is forced to swim until it gives up and is hung by the tail until it ceases to struggle for release.  The time it takes to give up is a measure of the degree of bereavement at the loss of a life partner.  I don’t know why all this leaves me impressed by voles but totally disappointed by human beings in general.

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)

 

  

 

Being with her was enough hell for any reasonable man

I can remember my heart sinking at various moments when visiting some friends.  Invariably, you would be having a lovely cup of coffee and a nice chat when the door would open and two things would happen.  The hostess’s hand would start to shake so much that her coffee cup would rattle against the saucer and her face would portray that look of frightened horror that I have come to dread.  It usually meant that the person coming through the door was their husband and to be found having a cup of coffee relaxing with friends, while they worked, was a provocation that they felt inappropriate.  Had they been ironing, dusting, cooking or cleaning, it would have been fine.  Nothing much would be admitted as introductions were made to all there but beneath the surface you could feel the strain.  Someone would pay for this indiscretion and the hostess knew it was probably her. 

Not, that this was always the case.  Far from it, many friends had no such reaction and would joke merrily with a steady hand on their coffee cup.  I grew to love that solid stability it felt robust and healthy.  Mind you at times you did feel sorry for husbands.  One friend, Ellie,  would smuggle her many purchases home and hide them in a friend’s apartment for a couple of weeks, so when her husband asked was that a new dress she could answer confidently and truthfully, “No, I have had this weeks!” 

Ellie was a character though and her whole block consisted of like minded women, who seemed to be wearing pyjamas all the time when at home.  Then, I realised they would come home from work and change into these comfortable working pyjamas.  They would pop in and out of each other’s apartments and I envied their unity and laughter.  Once Ellie was late, as usual, running her sons to school and raced out the door in her pyjamas and slippers to drive them there.  Her best friend, the neighbour above, apparently leant over the balcony and shouted, “I hope the car brakes down, while you are dressed like that!”  Usually, she could drop the boys off without getting out of the car or being seen by anyone, but one day the car did indeed break down and poor Ellie had to walk in her fluffy slippers, hair dishevelled and pink pyjamas exposed all the way home.  It was highly unfortunate, for Ellie, that of all the people who met her on the road that day her mother-in-law was included.  There are definitely days that go from bad to worse.

Ellie came back from a longed for holiday in Paris unusually angry.  She told me that if her husband went to hell, then she wanted to go to heaven and if he died and went to heaven she would prefer hell!  This was a bit strong, I felt, but she claimed that the whole holiday he had complained about the price of coffees, the shops, the hotel, the roads and even the food.  He’s ruined the whole holiday, she muttered and that was it, no more trips with him.  She was an exuberant character and actually a lovely person but explosive.  When, I eventually met her husband he turned out to be a nice mild mannered man who treated Ellie with a teasing good humour.  They seemed to get away with saying any outrageous thing to each other without causing lasting offence.  Even the comment about heaven and hell was repeated loud enough for him to overhear, he just snorted in amusement when he heard it, and responded that being with her was enough hell for any reasonable man.

It has been said that marriage should be a fortress for well-being. I know it has been heartening to meet those that have created that space within their union that protects and nurtures.  Mighty fortresses indeed.