Abnormal Psychology

“The O.C.” is an American teen drama television series that portrays fictional lives of a group of teenagers and their families residing in California. The excerpts of the chosen episode depict a family where the parents (Julie and Jimmy Cooper) are going through a separation and divorce. The separation was kept secret from the daughter (Marissa) until the father had moved out and she found out by a telephone call. The daughter subsequently took a mixture of pain-killers and alcohol and was committed to a hospital for an over-dose. The episode also depicts various interactions of the mother and father in conflict and a number of psychological themes associated with the effects of divorce on children including the shock factor to the child, lack of information and subsequent lack of understanding, loss of relationship, diminished parenting and parental conflict.

Parental separation is stressful and many children have little emotional preparation for their parent’s separation. The normal reactions to the separation is anxiety, anger and disbelief. Complicating children’s attempt to cope with the major changes initiated by separation, most children are inadequatley informed about their separation and divorce. They are left to struggle alone with the meaning of this event and this can cause a sense of isolation and cognitive and emotional confusion. Divorcing families often fail to communicate their thoughts with each other regarding effective custody and access arrangements for their children. The shock factor and the lack of information is exemplified by the main character’s Marissa’s parents decision to divorce is kept in secret and she does not find out until her father has moved out and Marissa find out by a telephone call.

The episode also portrays the recurring theme of parental conflict between the divorcing couple. The characters Jimmy and Julie are seen arguing about various things and the mother threatens legal action for the sole custody of the children. Conflict following separation and divorce is seen as a major stressor for the children. In some families intense anger and conflict is ignited by the separation itself and the impact of highly adversarial legal process, thus, some children of divorced couples will be burdened by continuing or intensified conflict.

A related stressor for children is the impact of inept parenting both prior and following