Whether couples reunite or divorce dictates whether past pain must be confronted.

Evidence

This distinction applies not only to the international or intergroup spheres but also to the interpersonal level. If two estranged spouses wish to reunite, their goal is integration. To achieve this goal, socio-emotional reconciliation is required in order to address and remedy the pain of the past so that the two former rivals can be peacefully integrated as a family once again. If, however, the estranged couple decides to divorce, their goal is separation. This goal requires that the two parties achieve sufficient trust to allow for separate coexistence in a relatively conflict-free environment and to enable them to deal constructively with common issues such as custody of children. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 1544

Categorization

• CANDY: A neat reduction: the marital analogy to international reconciliation — integrate means dig through the past, divorce means just enough trust to co-parent.
• XREF: connects to: Perpetrator-group victimhood recognition requires a two-generation time lag — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 2070