ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates how a psychosocial approach resists the traditional sociological/psychological disciplinary boundary, and uses concepts and methods that deliberately and routinely transgress such boundaries. It investigates the relationships between the psychological processes of separation and divorce, and dispute resolution discourses and procedures, using a qualitative, multiple case study approach. Whilst traditional psychological research may illuminate certain aspects of the divorce process, it is of limited value in understanding individual experiences holistically; these experiences are decontextualised in the research process and personal meanings tend to be left out of account. Several commentators have pointed out that, despite the broad literature on the psychological aspects of divorce, very little is actually known about the range of divorce experiences and the personal meanings which they hold. The main focus of interest was in how subjects themselves told about their experiences of divorce and dispute resolution, and in what discourses they invoked in what ways in giving their accounts.
