Psychological Perspective

It is understood that divorce or separation may have either positive or negative effects; all the same it does not happen overnight. The renowned Psychologist Erik Erikson was keen to point out that people do not suddenly wake up one morning and be in a new life stage. Changes are graduated, mixed-together and organic and people experience ‘psychosocial crisis’ stages. That is where a person passes unsuccessfully through a psychosocial crisis stage and develops a tendency towards one or other of the opposing forces, which then becomes a behavioural tendency, or even a mental problem (Boeree, 1997, p.8).

Divorce and separation means change and change may not always be easy for the divorced or separated adult, who can be mentally affected by it in several ways.  A divorce or separation  represents a major life change and can take quite a while to adjust to the situation. In the meantime the individual may emotionally go through several changes. Researchers has established that each person is psychologically different and some may adjust quicker than some, while continued support may be needed for others to make the necessary transition.   

Please take a look at some of the ways that a divorced or separated persons may experience psychological effects.