Neighbor News
Systems Thinking and Divorce
Dr. Clatch writes about how the process of systems thinking can help separating parents better understand and meet their children's needs.
Although simple cause-effect understanding of divorce suggests that children may be negatively impacted by the event, there are instances in which children grow more resilient as a result of their experiences.
Understanding why such a broad range of responses occurs requires an understanding of systems thinking and its application to the family. Systems thinking is a process whereby individuals must consider the reciprocal interaction between themselves and the environment in which they live, e.g., their interaction with the whole. When examining the process of divorce, it is not plausible to argue that Mom and Dad being angry with each other will produce anger and animosity for the children. Rather, understanding divorce and its outcomes requires a consideration of how parents interact with one another, what social supports are available to the family and the children and how children respond to changes in their family and their environment.
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