Understanding Divorce and Relationship DissolutionDivorce and Separation as a ProcessBohannon’s Six StationsRemarriage, Repartnering, and StepfamiliesDefinitions and Forms1. Remarriage – a family where one or both spouses have been married previously.2. Reparterning3. Step Family (blended) – a family in which one or both partners bring children into the household, resulting in the presence of both biological and non-biological parents.Most common form: mother, her children from previous relationship, and stepfather.More complicated form: mother and father both bring children from previous relationship and then have their own children.Remarriage rates are declining and cohabitation rates are increasing.Remarriage and Step-Families Statistics50% of marriages are remarriages for one or both parents.2/3 of these marriages have children from previous relationships; over half of Americans will be part of a step-family at some point in their life.1/3 of children will live in a blended family for at least one year before they reach 18.30% will re-marry within one year after divorce.Men remarry at higher rates.For divorced women, the likelihood of remarriage declines with age.Remarriage is most common in women under age 25 at the time of their divorce.Women who are educated and employed are less likely to remarry.Remarriages are more likely to end in divorce than first marriages.Divorce Family Life CycleNext few stages include:1. Entering new relationships.2. Planning new Marriage and Family: roles, boundaries, identity, and maintenance tasks, child loyalty to biological parents, extended family members.Unique Characteristics of StepfamiliesFormed following loss/change/transition – different adjustment patterns.All members come with history.Converge at different phases.Parent-Child relationships precede couple relationship.Children may have a parent elsewhere – differences in tasks, boundaries, emotional climate.Children hold membership in two households – two sets of rules and norms.Models for stepparents are poorly defined.Step-relationships are new and untested.Have at least one extra set of grandparents.Little to no legal relationships.BoundariesConfusionPermeabilityPhysical – shared space.PsychologicalSUBSYSTEMS:Triangulation – new and extended families.Loyalty issuesAlliances and coalitionsCharacteristics of Successful StepfamiliesUNDERSTANDING DIVORCE AND RELATIONSHIP DISSOLUTION  Divorce and Separation as a Process- Divorce as a process, not an evento Cyclical patterns transfer into new relationships; 2nd and 3rd divorces are more common.- Factors surrounding process are often key to outcomes- Transitions and Adjustments KEY TERMS:1. Parental Child – role assumed by a child – responsibility for parenting other children.2. Co-Parenting – end spousal role – maintain parental role – sharing parental responsibilities.3. Boundary Ambiguity – confusion about family membership. Stages of Divorce1. Individual Cognition- Mental separation, first realize something is wrong, no partner confrontation, some couples stay together rather than risk separation, weigh the pros and cons.2. Family Metacognition- Announce to family, greatest distress and disruption, family system changes.3. Separation- One partner moves out, boundary tensions, economic and legal divorces occur.4. Family Reorganization- Co-parenting, renegotiate new boundaries, custody.  Bohannon’s Six Stations1. Emotional Divorce- Withhold bonding and communication- Self-esteem reduction; misunderstanding- Divorce counseling2. Legal Divorce- Dissolution by state in court- Period of grieving- Address rights rather than balance- Divorce mediation – negotiate terms; couples report better interpersonal relationships with their spouses afterward; fairness of results- No-fault divorce – California 1970; o Reasons previously included infidelity, inability for economic support, etc.o Results for women: economic independence, employment, greater education, birth control and reproductive rights.3. Economic Divorce- Financial resources- Management of children4. Co-parental Divorce5. Community Divorce- Kin no more – extended family relations; in-laws.- Divorce modifies one's social networks.- Most commonly retained relationship: Mother-in-law with the wife (if children are involved) – females are more likely to maintain relationships with in-laws.- Friends no more: Couple pairs; time schedules (renegotiation).6. Psychic Divorce- Psychological autonomy – redefine oneself as single, individual.- To be successful, consideration/respect must be established between the couple.- New social identity – Symbolic Interactionism Ahron's Categorization of Former Spouse Relationships1. Perfect Pals- Maintain friendship2. Cooperative Colleagues3. Angry Associates- Hostile, former marital issues contaminate parenting, children get caught in the middle; power struggle.4. Fiery Foes- No such thing as co-parenting, other parent is the enemy; harmful to entire family.5. Dissolved Duos- Discontinue contact with each other; emotional cutoff; children feel abandoned. Healthy Divorce for Children- 80% of children do not experience long-term serious problems following divorce.- Low number of transitions and stressors following divorce if rules and partners are consistent – predictability and stability is preferred.- No triangulation- No emotional reactivity- Children can express their feelings – personal validation is constructive to their recovery.- Children can accept the breakup.REMARRIAGE, REPARTNERING, AND STEPFAMILIES  Definitions and Forms1. Remarriage – a family where one or both spouses have been married previously.2. Reparterning3. Step Family (blended) – a family in which one or both partners bring children into the household, resulting in the presence of both biological and non-biological parents.- Most common form: mother, her children from previous relationship, and stepfather.- More complicated form: mother and father both bring children from previous relationship and then have their own children.- Remarriage rates are declining and cohabitation rates are increasing. Remarriage and Step-Families Statistics- 50% of marriages are remarriages for one or both parents.- 2/3 of these marriages have children from previous relationships; over half of Americans will be part of a step-family at some point in their life.- 1/3 of children will live in a blended family for at least one