ABSTRACT
Divorce is a remedy provided by society to deal with a failed marriage. In its rightful place, divorce makes sense and couples should not need to be chained together where both could face years of unhappiness, turmoil, and conflict. To be sure, such an imbalanced dynamic is a source for much of the unnecessary grief, hurt, fury, and retaliatory vengeance mental health professionals often see in these complicated divorce situations. Marriages are based on a balance of needs and mutuality. If marriages require honesty as a fundamental value, it is likely impossible for real healing to occur if this truth remains hidden. Extramarital relationships could still be intended as a supplement in the mind of a spouse who lacks the will, courage or resourcefulness to leave an existing marriage. Marriages might survive a sexual competitor but they almost never survive an alternate or rival love.
