Theories of romantic relationships: Duck's phase model Flashcards
Phase model of relationship breakdown
An explanation of the stages people go through when their relationship is not working. Once one partner is dissatisfied, there are four phases in the process, each with a different focus
State the four phases the duck’s phase model of relationship breakdown
Intra-physic phase
Dyadic phase
Social phase
Grave dressing phase
Intra-physic phase
Threshold - ‘I can’t stand this anymore’ -> determination that something has to change
A partner becomes dissatisfied with the relationship in its current form. They then worry about the reasons for this and will usually focus on their partner’s shortcoming
Dissatisfied partner - keep this to themself but may share their thoughts with a trusted friend, weighing up the pros and cons of continuing
Dyadic phase
Threshold - ‘I would be justified in withdrawing’
Once a partner concludes that they are justified in ending the relationship they have to discuss this with their partner
Dissatisfactions about equity, commitment e.t.c are aired
Ironically, self disclosures may be more frequent as partners feel they can reveal true feelings
Social phase
Threshold - the dissatisfied partner concludes, ‘I meant it’
Once a partner wants to end the relationship, seek support particularly from joint friends
These friends may choose a side but others may try and prevent the break up by acting as a go-between
Once the news is public, usually the point of no return
Grave dressing phases
Threshold - ‘It’s now inevitable’
Once the end becomes inevitable -> suitable story of the relationship and its end is prepared for wider consumption
An attempt to ensure that the storyteller will be judged most favourably
Creation of a personal story in addition to the public is necessary so the partner can ‘move on’
Final threshold - ‘Time to get a new life’
What is one strength
Real world relationship breakdown
Evaluation: Useful application
Duck’s approachhas practical uses, particularly in the context of couple’s counselling. Depending on whichever phase they are in at the time, couples may be recommended to employ different tactics.
For instance, it might be more beneficial for someone in the intra-psychic phase to focus on their partner’s positive traits, yet discussion regarding discontent and strategies for maintaining a healthy balance in a relationship is essential for a pair in the dyadic phase.
This demonstrates that Duck’s model of relationship breakdown can be effectively applied to assist couples who are thinking about splitting up to strengthen their bonds and remain together.
What are the three limitations
Methodological issues
Cultural bias
Model is incomplete
Evaluation: Methodological issues
Duck’s phase model is primarily supported by retrospective research. People share their stories of the breakdownafter it ended. As a result, recall may not always be precise or trustworthy.
Therefore early phases of the breakdown are frequently misrepresented or completely disregarded. Because they are afraid that becoming involved might worsen the situation and lead to the relationship failing, researchers are hesitant to investigate couples.
Evaluation: Individual differences
The majority of the research and the model are based on relationship experiences in Western cultures, particularly in the USA. According to Mohaddam, partnerships tend to be less required and more difficult to stop in collectivist cultures than in individualist cultures, where they are typically voluntary and end regularly.
Different cultures have different ideas on love relationships in general. It is therefore extremely rare that the breakdown of a relationship follows the same path in every culture.
Evaluation: Model is incomplete
Rollie and Duck added a resurrection phase in which ex partners apply to future relationships what they have learned from the recent past
Also, partners may return to earlier phases at any point and processes are more important than linear movement through phrases
This means the original model does not take account of the complexity of breakdown and its dynamic nature
