Chapter 15

1.) Chapter 15, “Separation and Divorce,” discusses:

· Separation: Process and Outcome

· The Phases of Separation

· Some Outcomes of Marital Separation

· Separation and Reconciliation

· Separation without Divorce

· Separation and Divorce

· Trends in Divorce

· Are U.S. Divorce Rates Alarming?

· Divorce Rates Have Decreased

· The Process of Divorce

· Emotional Divorce

· Legal Divorce

· Economic Divorce

· Coparental Divorce

· Community Divorce

· Psychic Divorce

· Why Do People Divorce?

· Macro-Level Reasons for Divorce

· Demographic Variables and Divorce

· Micro-Level/Interpersonal Reasons for Divorce

· Same-Sex Divorce

· How Divorce Affects Adults

· Physical, Emotional, and Psychological Effects

· Economic and Financial Changes

· Child Custody

· Child Support

· Do Visitation and Child Support Improve Children’s Lives?

· How Divorce Affects Children

· In a Divorce, Should Your Child Be Your Peer?

· What Hurts Children Before, During, and After Divorce?

· What Helps Children Before, During, and After Divorce?

· Some Positive Outcomes of Separation and Divorce

· Benefits of Children

· Benefits for Adults

· Counseling, Marital Therapy, Divorce Mediation, and Collaborative Divorce

2.) The section titled “In a Divorce, Should Your Child Be Your Peer?” caught my attention. I feel that whether going through a divorce or not, your child should never be mistaken for a friend. Sure, I’m very close to my family but there are certain things that should never be discussed, such as sexual escapades. There is also a part in the section in which a child talks about being a courier of messages between his/her parents. I believe that this is wrong, whether or not the separated/divorced couples is on bad terms, there should be enough civility between the two parties to be able to effectively communicate matters of the children, such as who is picking them up and where, who has them what days, etc.

3.) What is your opinion on parents thinking of their child as a peer?