The Breakdown Of Relationships Flashcards
A model of breakdown
A relationship that is inequitable or where there are reasons for breakdowns are likely to create dissatisfaction in one of the partners. There are 6 stages:
Breakdown- one partner becomes dissatisfied with the relationship.
Intrapsychic processes: person broods on their partners faults and on rational costs.
Dyadic processes: person confronts their partner and begins to discuss their feelings and the future.
Social processes: dissatisfaction spills over to friends and family and so speeds partners toward dissolution.
Grave-dressing processes: partners construct a representation of the failed relationship that avoids putting them in an unfavourable light.
Resurrection processes: each partner prepares themselves for new relationships by redid inning themselves and building on past experiences.
Duck: reasons for relationship breakdown
Could be down to 3 things: lack of skills lack of stimulation and maintenance difficulties
Some people lack the interpersonal skills to make relationships mutually satisfying. These include being poor conversationalists and poor at indicationg interest in others. So the others find them unrewarding and relationship breaks down.
There is a lack of stimulation (boredom). People expect relationships to change and develop and if they don’t his is seen as sufficient justification to end the relationship.
Some circumstances make maintenance of relationships difficult to manage because partners do not see each other often enough. This places a strain on relationships which may be responsible for their breakdown.
AO2
Tashiro and Frazier found evidence for ducks model of breakdown. They surveyed undergraduates who had recently broken up with a romantic partner. They reported not only feeling emotional distress but also personal growth and better insight into themselves and what they wanted from future relationships. Through grave dressing and resurrection processes, they can move on with their lives.
However this study only focused on students meaning the sample was biased as student relationship breakdown may be different to adult relationships and the wider population and so lacks external validity.
The model has face validity as people are able to relate their own experiences to the process of breakups put forward.
Boekhout et al found supporting evidence for ducks theory and how lack of skills of stimulation can lead to breakdowns. They found extramarital affairs were a direct reaction to a perceived lack of skills or stimulation in the existing relationship. Undergraduates judged sexual boredom and the need for excitement as the main reasons for infidelity among males and lack of attention and emotional dissatisfaction as the main reasons for infidelity among males.
Long distant relationships are common in our mobile society. Holt and stone found there was little decrease in relationship satisfaction provided that lovers are able to reunite regularly. Those shows that people use different management strategies to successfully maintain long distance relationships.
The model
