CHAPTER ONE
1.1       Introduction:
Background to the Study   Culture is generally, described and accepted as people’s way of life, which among other things includes their material lives. The inspiration of every matured man or woman is to have a stable and happy marital life, be compatible in love, values, academic, economic and of course be socially alright. This in line with the postulation of Onyema (1994), that marriage is a social institution for the union of body and soul. However, stability in marriage may at times be influenced by certain socio-cultural variables. The influence of the variables may be negative resulting to insecurity and unhappiness in marriage or may be positive resulting to a stable and happy union. These variables range from cultural diversity (in case of interethnic marriage), to educational, social, economic and even religious background. Even age difference is inclusive in these variables. For instance, a lady once confessed that she can never marry an illiterate no matter how rich he may be, because, one day, he might ignorantly use her certificate as a toilet tissue. The implication of this open confession is incompatibility and social inequality in education which are factors that may influence marital stability. The current instability in some marriages in our society today tend to be the resultant influence of social, economic and cultural changes in people’s pattern of living. These changes, according to Amaonye, (1996), have occurred and have continued to occur so rapidly that they are not yet absorbed into our ways of living. Furthermore, compatibility in social lives of couples is a strong factor for marital stability and survival. When the social lives of couples are at variance, it may likely portend great threat to marital stability, because it takes time to come to terms with why some social outings and involvement are necessary. However, the realization of the salient influence of these socio cultural variables on marriage may likely be positive moment towards marriage stability in our society today. Age difference is a factor that can cause individuals to refuse to marry certain personalities. Age variables in any case, can cause disaffection and lack of love among married couples, and this is capable of causing bad blood, which may lead to conflict in marriage (Adeleke, 2005). A situation where a much more younger girl marries a much more older man, there may not be that husband and wife love and affection, which make marriage thick and stable. Also poverty or riches is another variable that can separate or unite couples. For instance, in a marriage where there is lack of money, the couple may not live happily in peace. This is because, according to Uzor (2000), finance is one of the uniting factors in marriage. Language barrier is another socio-cultural variable that makes or mars the union of husband and wife in marriage. This is because, if couples do not communicate well using a common language, disintegration may set in. As Ulumor (2003) puts it, without effective communication, no marriage can stand the test of time. Ulumor is of the opinion that couples who speak one common language, are found to be more united and in love, than those who do not speak a common language. So, inter-ethnic marriage is a factor that must be considered thoroughly before people dabble into marriage. Religion is an important socio-cultural variable in any marital union. Religion is the way of life of a people. According to Molokwu (2004), marriages have broken down due to differences in religious backgrounds or perception. According to Molokwu, differences or similarity in religious beliefs, consciousness, feelings and so on, build or destroy marriages. If couples are not in the same belief system, it could lead to lack of trust and confidence, and if trust and confidence are lacking in any marriage, it will be extinct. Marriage should be contracted through a careful planning and accidental marriage (that is marriages that are not planned but are forced on couples to save the family or families from embarrassment) should be avoided like a plague. Before a man weds his wife, both of them should reach the age of maturity. They should mature socially, economically, temperamentally, financially etc. For a happy marriage, they should maintain a feeling of love and affection. The wife must experience a feeling of being wanted and a sense of belonging, care and security. The husband too needs love and affection to ensure him of a stable marriage. Marriage partners should avoid cognitive error that is, they should not expect the other person to see it. Therefore, if the husband wants the wife to behave in a certain way, he should inform her about his wishes, the same is true of the wife to her husband. Sexual compatibility tends to foster marital stability, marital oneness to large extent depends on sex. Infact, sex is a form of communication and probably, the most legitimate in which two persons (husband and wife) express oneness of mind and feeling. Therefore, partners in marriage should be socially compatible. Child-bearing is a factor that foster marriage may not be her fault. The main may be very low to effect pregnancy. To avoid unnecessary doubts, both husband and wife should go for a medical checkup to rectify or correct the problem of childessness. For marriage to work out well, couples should not entertain the interference of in-laws or the third party syndrome. They should avoid washing their dirty lining in the public. They should be of one religious sect, joint account, mind the same thing, maintain peace in the home and allow love and affection to rule their world.