ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the psychological aspects of the divorce process and considers their implications for dispute resolution. It talks about the psychology of divorce, at both an individual and a social level. The book focuses on people's narrative accounts of divorce, and discusses the connections between the form and content of the narratives and psychological coping strategies. It presents an alternative theoretical and methodological framework which people find more conducive to a nuanced understanding of the experiences and psychological processes of divorce. The Family Law Act 1996 introduced a new scheme for divorce, abolishing fault-based provisions and envisaging that party-controlled mediation, rather than adversarial negotiation or litigation, will become the norm for resolving divorce disputes. The family is increasingly a site of tension, as rapid social change seems to undermine its very foundations.
