Determining The Antecedents That Lead To High Conflict Domestic Disputes In Couples With Children

The aim of this research is to determine the antecedents that cause domestic disputes to devolve into high conflict domestic disputes in couples with children. Research in this area has focused on reactive interventions that occur once the high conflict dispute already exists, in addition to outcomes for the children involved in these disputes. However, current literature does not specifically focus in on the aspects that are present in high conflict relationships that set them apart from those who engage in the regular conflict that occurs at the end of a relationship. Participants included individuals employed as Custody and Parenting Time Specialists, who work regularly and closely with individuals embroiled in high conflict disputes. Using a qualitative, grounded theory approach, this dissertation develops a theory that identifies the antecedents that cause regular conflict to devolve into a high conflict domestic dispute. The study found that there were ten antecedent categories, which were then organized and condensed into three concepts that were either external or internal to the parties involved in domestic disputes: systemic influences, outcomes of childhood experiences, and relationship influences.