From Marital Distress to Divorce

Abstract

The aim of this article was to examine how people arrived at the decision to divorce. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with twelve couples in which both agreed the relationship was in trouble and at least one partner was seriously considering divorce. We found that initiating informants used cognitive, interactional and preparatory strategies, aiming at reconstructing the mental representation of the partner, the self, the relationship, as well as of the divorce option. Noninitiating partners sometimes used resistance strategies. Results are discussed in terms of dynamics between partners, identity making process and implications for family practice.

Key Words:

• Divorce
• decision-making process
• decision-making strategies