While approximately 45% of marriages in America end in divorce, there are various sociological reasons why this number is so high (Hyde) . In reality, when you think about all the factors that come into play in a divorce, they can be overwhelming. The first reading in this course, “Taking a New Look at a Familiar World” looked at why a girlfriend breaks up with her boyfriend. During this reading, the author examined the reasons for a breakup and said that there are a significant number of other possibilities for breakups (Newman). Michael and Louise had broken up and it was Louise who initiated the breakup (Newman). People tend to use an individualistic explanation for the breakup and place the blame on one or both individuals personally (Newman). If the breakup is viewed from a sociological perspective, then we can see that many other factors could be behind Michael and Louise's breakup. Other circumstances that could have led to a breakup could have been availability on the dating market, as well as a change in the needs of a partner in a relationship.