Final answer:
Statement (d), implying that the Western idea of romantic love is a strong cement between spouses, is likely false. The other statements are generally supported by anthropological and historical understanding of marriage and kinship systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the factors influencing divorce rates in various societies, and which of the provided statements is false. Evaluating each statement:
- Divorce is less common in matrilineal societies than in patrilineal societies. This statement is likely true, given that in matrilineal societies, marriage does not heavily impact inheritance and family ties, which are traced through women.
- Marriage is harder to dissolve when it creates political alliances. This is generally true, as such marriages are bound by overarching social and political interests, not just personal relationships.
- Divorce is rarer in societies in which the husband and his kin group provide a substantial lobola gift. Anthropological evidence suggests that substantial marital exchanges, like a lobola (bride price), can make divorce more complicated and less common due to the economic ties and obligations created.
- The Western idea of romantic love is not necessarily a strong cement between spouses. This statement is misleading within the context, potentially implying that romantic love does indeed form a strong bond, which, given the high rates of divorce in Western societies, could support the interpretation that romantic love alone is insufficient to assure marital stability.
Considering the details about marriage and family dynamics from various cultures, the false statement among the options provided is likely (d) because it may suggest an incorrect causality between the Western notion of romantic love and marital stability. In contrast, the other statements are supported by anthropological and historical trends.