Couples Separated couples in a distant separation are able to keep their conflict from their children, but are still dealing with feelings of hurt, resentment, anger, and pain. While there is plenty of intense anger, this emotion usually fades to a growing dislike or indifference. These couples people have done a lot less emotional work on their feelings, and their recollections of the relationship are characterized by bitterness rather than sadness.

These couples people are not friends but know better than to become enemies, perhaps because of the children or past experience with the court system. They deal with each other minimally, without a great deal of warmth or demonstrated anger.