Description
Book SynopsisFeaturing excerpts of essays collected from over one thousand young adults while in the throes of divorce, this book paints a picture of the pain and the hope shown by the storytellers. By framing the narratives with an analysis of the most recent divorce literature, the authors provide readers with a greater and more vivid understanding of the effects of divorce.
Challenging the contention that most children will be irretrievably hurt by their parents'' divorce, some stories clearly demonstrate the strength and resilience many have learned in dealing with a divorce in the family. Emphasis is placed on how hope about the possibilities of having close relationships - as well as a willingness to create stronger families in their own lives - represent abiding motivations in this sample of young people. The authors hope that the use of the raw input of respondents will make the experiences more realistic and ultimately help people deal with major loss events in their lives.
Trade Review
"This work is unique in that it is largely a collection of writings by college students on personal family experiences of divorce ... (including) deeply moving accounts of individual reactions and narratives. ...The authors appreciate the diversity and complexity of the divorce process, as well as the variety of ways it may impact individuals." - J. LeBron McBride, Director of Behavioral Medicine and Faculty Member, Floyd Medical Center Family Medicine Residency, USA in Network- National Council on Family Relations
"The book makes interesting light reading and the stories shared are varied and rich." – Kelly Lewis-Cole in The Psychologist
"This is a brilliant synthesis of existing research on the impact of divorce upon children informed by detailed personal narratives of divorce by over 1,000 college students. The personal narratives provide the richest view that I know of the inside of marriages coming apart. ... This slender volume would be excellent supplement to social psychology courses which emphasize close relationships, courses in marriage and the family, and courses in adolescent counseling. It is written with a sensitivity to the limitations fof the data and methods, but with a sophisticated grasp of the theories and issues relevant to make social psychology relevant to our students." - Keith Davis, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, USA
This slender volume would be excellent supplement to social psychology courses which emphasize close relationships, courses in marriage and the family, and courses in adolescent counseling. It is written with a sensitivity to the limitations fof the data and methods, but with a sophisticated grasp of the theories and issues relevant to make social psychology relevant to our students.
"Two distinguished researchers collaborate on this exciting, timely, relevant and humane project so the result is excellent. This book lives up to all expectations, with the authors' hallmark blend of technical expertise and accessible writing." - Steve Duck, University of Iowa, USA
"Reflecting the voices of young adults and researchers this book provides balance at many levels. It captures well the variable impact of parental divorce from diverse perspectives. Engaging and lively, it is a must read for anyone interested in the topic." - Frank Fincham, The Florida State University, USA
"Once again, Harvey and Fine remind us that divorce is a pivotal event, a dichotomy in a life. Yet divorce is also on a continuum from "devastating" to "civil and compassionate." Therein lies both the pain – and the hope." - Susan Hendrick, Texas Tech University, USA
"The focus on college students' narratives is unique and it quickly grabs the [readers'] interest... my students can easily relate to them. Relevant and important literature is included and guides the understanding of the stories. ... The inclusion of "comments" following each narrative helps to solidify the concepts portrayed and … connect content across chapters....an appropriate supplemental text ... for courses in family crisis and stress, divorce and stepfamily life, adolescent development, young adulthood, and parenting." - Karen Blaisure, Western Michigan University, USA
Table of ContentsPreface. 1. The Pervasiveness of Divorce and the Value of Diverse Voices. 2. Theoretical Perspectives and Methods. 3. Voices of Despair. 4. Voices of Hope. 5. Becoming "Parentless" Due to Divorce. 6. Family Chaos and Resilience. 7. Recent Narratives and New Perspectives on Divorce. 8. Conclusions. Appendix.
