Entrenched postseparation parenting disputes: The role of interparental hatred?

Abstract

There is an emerging view that the term “high conflict” oversimplifies the nature of destr uctive family dynamics, esp ecially withrespect to the small but resource-inten sive group of sepa rated parents who remain d eeply enmeshed in legal battle s and parenta l acri-mony. In this Article we propose that interparental hatred ma y be a key relationship dynamic driving the behavior of some in thisgroup. We suggest a d istinction between two typ es of interparental hatred: one that arise s from respon ses to separation -rela ted stresses(reactive hatred ) and the other (entrenched hatred ) that is indicative of more embedded, dysfunctional interpersonal dynamics and/orpersonality structures. While reactive hatred is typically time limited and amenable to profe ssional interve ntion, entrench ed hatredtends to overwhelm rationally informed attempts to mediate, negotiate, or even adhere to orders regarding suitab le parenting ar range-ments. We contend that while effective intervention in these cases requires all the generic skills and responses necessary for d ealingwith highly conflicted disputes, it is also important to name and appropriately challen ge interparental hatred when it is detec ted. Show more