Using a threat of divorce for maintaining family homeostasis within families in extreme distress (FED).

Describes a phenomenon of using a threat to divorce without implementation by families in extreme distress (FED) as a way of maintaining family homeostasis. A sample of 40 FED families and 2 case studies are analyzed to explain the threat to divorce phenomenon as relating to processes, such as social exchange and attachment, that often take place in the decision-making of divorce. Threat to divorce is discussed using the components of defining family boundaries, excitement, and power struggle, and in the context of marital laws in Israel. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)