The Impact of Identity on Divorce Decision-Making: A Grounded Theory Study

We examine the role that identity plays in the divorce decision-making process according to interviews with wave one respondents of the National Divorce Decision-Making study. Our sample (n = 30) consisted of men and women who were actively thinking about getting divorced. We present the results of a grounded theory approach to understanding the process of thinking about divorce and the role one’s identity may play in that decision-making process. Participants considered different aspects of their identity such as their identity as a part of their marriage, how they see themselves, how they believe others see them, and whether the decision to divorce is viewed by them as a “failure.” Further, we recommend language therapists might use to assess and explore the influence of personal identity when interviewing people who are considering divorce.