The driving force in Lenny Hochstein’s divorce from his ex-wife, The Real Housewives of Miami star Lisa Hochstein, may have been there all along in the Pygmalion complex. After 12 years of marriage, Lisa and Lenny decided to split amid mounting allegations of unfaithfulness and other issues. However, amidst all the firing back between the two, the main cause behind the divorce seems to be Lenny getting a new girlfriend behind Lisa’s back. The Peacock revival of RHOM season 5 has leaned heavily into the divorce as a plot angle.
Even before the divorce came to fruition, there was an unsettling attitude from Lenny toward Lisa. The signs of Lisa and Lenny's divorce may have been there from the beginning through Lenny’s expectations. The Pygmalion effect, or Rosenthal effect, is a phenomenon in which one’s expectations usually become a reality. In education, for example, a teacher with high expectations has students that perform better. This phenomenon may be a key factor in the Hochstein's divorce.
Lenny’s Clear Lack Of Respect For Lisa
Even in the first half of RHOM season 5, Lenny’s expectations of Lisa were quite clear. Lenny often talked to her like she was a child, and repeated himself over and over in the simplest of terms. On RHOM season 5, episode 5, Lenny kept reiterating how Lisa had to find a replacement nanny so that he could go play tennis as if she wasn’t understanding. If this were an isolated incident, it wouldn’t be such a red flag in Lenny and Lisa’s relationship, but it’s a constant occurrence. Other incidents included Lisa breaking the automated wine cellar door, the borscht dinner argument, and the debate over an ambulance for an injured employee.
Did Lenny’s Expectations Really Cause The Divorce?
It seems that Lenny almost created a version of Lisa in his mind, a Lisa who was unintelligent and incapable, and decided that he wanted to reject that person. Granted, Lisa did say to him, “Ultimately, I can do everything myself, but I like you to do it for me.” However, she probably meant it from a place of romance rather than a place of infantilization. This whole ordeal also begs the question of which of them is the real child in this relationship, as Lisa scolded Lenny for mocking their divorce on social media.
Neither Lenny nor Lisa has been very mature throughout this storm. Still, throughout the bulk of the relationship, it’s rather clear which of the two put a greater effort into their family. Lisa, in all humility, even acknowledged that he provides an amazing life for her and their children. Meanwhile, Lenny has shown no such respect for The Real Housewives of Miami star.