Separated Parents’ Adaptive Responses and States Within Intractable Parental Disputes

ABSTRACT

Drawing on interviews with separated parents (N = 40) this Australian qualitative study explored dissonance within intractable parental disputes. The mature defense mechanisms of altruism, suppression, anticipation, and humor emerged as potential adaptive responses to dissonance. The mature defense mechanism of sublimation did not emerge as a potential adaptive response to dissonance within intractable parental disputes. Anxiety was the predominant state reported by separated parents. This study theorized that mature defense mechanisms might partially support the reduction of recurring dissonant states within intractable parental disputes. Those in clinical practice might find it useful to explore defense mechanisms, and the clues they provide, in further understanding and supporting separated parents enmeshed within intractable parental disputes.

KEYWORDS:

• Affect
• cognitive dissonance
• defense mechanisms
• high conflict; parental separation

Acknowledgement

The first author acknowledges that this research has been supported through an Australian Government Research Training Scholarship.