Ending the ‘Cult of the Broken Home’: Divorce, Children and the Changing Emotional Dynamics of Separating British Families, c. 1945–90

Abstract From the 1960s, rising divorce rates forced a re-thinking of family dynamics beyond nuclear. Traditionally, experts and public had presumed that children from ‘broken homes’ typically drifted into juvenile delinquency crime. Children were blamed for plethora social problems. The increasingly common nature meant this model was no longer sustainable. Post-war more likely to be framed as ‘emotionally vulnerable’ studied in nuanced ways, not least because it seemed obvious all affected grew up delinquent. However, new consensus emerged problems could only avoided if parents created appropriate emotional conditions while separating divorcing, openly communicated their feelings throughout process. themselves actively encouraged, through genre manuals often aimed at them, express emotions with friends. Using Britain case study, article argues became central discussion post-war period, placing onuses on breaking down families create positive space children.