A PARADIGM OF ROLES IN THE DIVORCE PROCESS - IMPLICATIONS FOR DIVORCEADJUSTMENT, FUTURE COMMITMENTS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

The paradigm presented delineates increased specificity of circumstanc es and role definition in the divorce process. Its purpose is to furth er refine investigation and eventual understanding of the experience o f divorce. Building on descriptions of the separating process introduc ed by Vaughan (1986), the paradigm combines the relative positions of partners on a nurturing/self-attending continuum and two dichotomous v ariables (initiation of emotional leaving and initiation of physical l eaving) to identify four types of divorce circumstances (the abandonme nt, the set-up, the escape and the release), and eight mutually exclus ive divorce roles (being the abandoned, the abandoner, the set-up, the setter-upper, the escaped, the escapee, the released, or the releaser ). It is plausible that the roles played in the divorce process create distinctive statuses that influence the individual's later life in a meaningful way, Addressing divorce process in light of the paradigm ma y help direct therapeutic intervention for marriage counseling or for divorce adjustment.