In a very real sense, society represents a pooling of individual psychological defenses and most people in our society are very defended at close quarters in their personal relationships. With the considerable degree of crime and violence, high suicide rates for the young and old, the amount of drug use, etc., one could say that the cultural norms could be considered pathogenic. In your book you seem to have arrived at the conclusion that the American institution of marriage is at an all time low. But regarding the subject of marriage in our country and its workability or unworkability, almost fifty percent of marriages today end in divorce and those that last are not necessarily emotionally fulfilling for the people involved.
People seem to be finding less satisfaction in marriage than they did in the past.
For example, the percentage of married people who reported being Avery happy in their marriages fell from 53 in 1976 to 37 in 1996. Love between marital partners must equate with the expression of affection, most likely including physical affection, mutual respect for each other's boundaries, harmonious companionship, kindness and honesty. Most people profess love, but do not act accordingly. Quite often their behavior toward one another violates essential human rights issues. Partners often manipulate each other in ways that violate their human rights.