A Typology of Attitudes Toward Proceeding with Divorce Among Parents in the Divorce Process

This article introduces a typology of attitudes toward proceeding with a divorce among parents of minor children. The backdrop is recent research showing that some parents are ambivalent about the divorce and are open to reconciliation services. Surveying a sample of 624 parents who had filed for divorce, the study found that about two thirds of participants were certain they wanted the divorce, about one quarter indicated ambivalence, and about 8% did not want the divorce. These attitudes were strongly linked to interest in reconciliation services. The article discusses implications for lawyers and mediators in assessing divorce ambivalence and offering appropriate services.