Inside Two Marriages

Almost yard Christmas Inflatables every couple fights at some point - about anything from dirty dishes and socks left on the floor to bigger problems of trust and communication. But some couples are almost constantly at each other's throats, with their marriage on the brink of divorce, as their kids witness yelling, name calling, unresolved disputes and lingering anger. With five cameras and 300 hours of footage, Primetime took an unprecedented look into the inner world of two volatile American families, with parents who can't stop fighting, and the toll it takes on their children. The couples saw Primetime's cameras as an opportunity to take a closer look for themselves at what was really going on. Though the couples were allowed to turn off the cameras, they agreed to let them roll long enough to see the inner workings of their relationships. The kid christmas videotape, captured over 10 weeks, revealed the inner workings of marriages filled with tension, mistrust, accusations and shouting. Psychologists have long understood that parental fighting can be toxic to a child's emotional well-being. But new research goes further, suggesting the wounds are both psychic and physical. The question we asked the experts: Should the couples split up or stay together for the sake of the kids? Behind Closed Doors: The Hershbergers and The Moores Les and Shannon Hershberger were high-school sweethearts who were pregnant with their oldest son before their senior prom. Now 33 and 32, respectively, they have been married for nine years and have three children. "We're on shaky ground," said Shannon in an interview before the cameras were installed in their suburban San Diego home. "I think we're pretty close to divorcing." Both recognize they may have gotten married too young, and they also struggle with issues of trust, communication, parenting, and the amount of time they spend together. 在长达10周多的偷拍录相带上，人们看到他们婚姻的核心内容中充满着紧张、不信任、指责和叫骂。心理学家一直认为，父母的不和会伤害孩子的良好情感，但这项新研究又进了一步，它提示这种伤害会涉及到孩子的身心。 　 我们要请教专家的问题是：为了孩子的缘故，这样的夫妻应该离异，还是为了孩子凑合过下去？ 在紧闭的门后看Hershbers和Moores夫妇 Les和Shannon Hershberger在高中时就热恋了，还没有进入高年级，他们就怀上了大儿子。现在，Les已33岁，Shannon 32岁，他们已结婚9年，有了3个孩子。 他们住在圣迭戈郊区，在他家安装摄像机之前，节目组采访了Shannon，她说："我们的婚姻已很不稳定，与离婚也就一步之遥了。" 夫妻双方都认为自己结婚太早，实际上，在信任、沟通、为人父母在一起化多少时间等等事情上充满矛盾和争斗。 "We don't have much in common," said Robert, 46. "I don't even know if we like each other, to tell you the truth." Both Judy and Robert have had previous marriages that ended in divorce, and they have a 3-year-old son, Jonathan. Though Robert has never physically abused his wife, he admits he has a quick temper. Judy said she married Robert because she thought she loved him. Now, she would view divorce as a failure. The hundreds of hours of footage showed how and why the couples fight. Primetime watched them yell at each other and use bad language in front of the kids. In some arguments, one had a tendency to flee rather than resolve things, either by leaving the room or focusing on the TV. They often didn't listen to each other, repeating their destructive patterns in argument after argument. There were signs of distrust, arguments rehashed, and potentially sweet moments that dissolved into bitterness. Both couples were often so absorbed in their own battles, that they often forgot their children were watching. There were also, however, some signs of tenderness and reconciliation.