An Oxford University professor has constructed a formula that can calculate whether newly-married couples will divorce.
James Murray, Professor in Mathematical Biology, recorded newly-weds having a 15 minute phone conversation about a difficult topic, such as money. Positive or negative points were awarded based upon the couple’s interactions, and the scores fed into his formula.
The 700 couples were then re-contacted in yearly intervals over the next 12 years. The formula’s prediction of whether the couples would get divorced turned out to be correct 94% of the time.
Commenting on the results, Prof. Murray said “Some couples may as well get divorced right away”.
