Theoretical Framework: Transitions and Risk Factors in Separation and Divorce

The aim of this chapter is to explore how children develop through the various stages of the family life-cycle, and how these processes are affected by the experience of a parental divorce. Our ideas are based on the premise that growth and development only acquire meaning in a given context. If children grow up in an environment where not only their basic physical needs but also their emotional needs are met, they will develop secure attachments to their care-givers and gradually evolve a narrative about themselves as loveable and likeable which will form the basis of further positive relationships. We are concerned with examining the impact that separation and divorce has on children at different developmental stages.