[A comparative socio-demographic study of nuptiality in two states: Aguascalientes and Veracruz].

In this article, nupciality is studies as a demografie and social phenomenon, worthy of an investigation and analysis on its own ments. The study focuses on two states of the Republic: Aguascalientes and Veracruz, where the author analyzes the formation of couples, the social norms which determine marriage behavior patterns, and the interaction between marriage and reproductive behavior patterns. The two states were selected because they present markedly different patterns of nuptiality. The first part of the study includes a description of the characteristics and patterns of unions in the two regions based on data from the 1982 "Encuesta Nacional Demografica" (National Demografie Survey) and on published studies on the subject. The second part presents as qualitative analysis based on semi-directed interviews conducted in 1988. The interviews are not statistically representative, but they do allow us to place the individual according to his/her actions and values as well as in relation to family and social surroundings.