Breakdown of relationships

Question 1

Phases

Answer 1

Duck and Rollie (2006)

5 separate phases

A new phase begins when one partner or both reaches a threshold and their views of the relationship changes

Intrapsychic

Dyadic

Social

Grave dressing

Resurrection

Question 2

Intrapsychic phase

Answer 2

One person has thoughts of dissatisfaction due to the costs of the relationship

They do not inform their partner at this phase

E.g. they don’t listen ,, i cannot do this anymore

Question 3

Dyadic phase

Answer 3

The unhappy partner airs their dissatisfaction, and the couple may engage in discussion or argument about their perceived inequity

They may seek relationship counselling at this phase

Question 4

Social phase

Answer 4

The couple publicly airs their relationship difficulties with friends and family

Friends and family may offer support or take sides

The couple begins to discuss the division of property and responsibilities

Question 5

Grave dressing phase

Answer 5

The relationship is now over (the couple have officially split up)

Each partner dress the grave of their relationship by minimising their role in the breakdown

Partners will most often blame each other as an EGO defence, trying to show themselves in a good light

Question 6

5 types of relationship breakdowns

Answer 6

Duck 2001

Pre-existing doom: incompatibility between partners that exists before the relationships gets going e.g. religion

Mechanical failure: incompatibility between partners that develops throughout the relationships e.g. career differences

Sudden death: betrayal is discovered which causes the immediate end of a relationships e.g. cheating

Question 7

Strength 1

Answer 7

Convincing evidence to support it

From Duck (2001)

Found that participants suggested that they had been willing to make the relationship work and reported being critical of their previous partner as part of their break up stories

Suggests that individuals do present themselves in a positive light, as an ego-defence as suggested by the model’s grave dressing phase

Question 8

Strength 2

Answer 8

Convincing research from Tashiro and Frazier (2003)

Found in interviews of students recently broken up, participants reported personal growth and greater level of understanding about themselves

Suggested individuals try to learn from past mistakes in prep for a new relationship, as suggested by resurrection phase

Question 9

Limit 1

Answer 9

Beta-biased

Which is when the theory unfairly minimises differences between men and women

This is because it suggests both men and women break down their relationships in the same way.

However, Kassin (1996) found sex differences in the relationship breakdown process (e.g. women were more likely than men to want to remain friends)

Therefore, there may be slight differences in breakdown processes for men and women

Question 10

Limit 2

Answer 10

Culturally biased

Which is when a theory inappropriately judges behaviour from a particular cultural view

This is because the model emphasises the temporary nature of relationships, something typical in western cultures

So, it ignores the permanent nature of non-western relationships, such as arranged marriages, which are unlikely to breakdown and are less likely to follow the models if they do breakdown

Question 11

Strength 3

Answer 11

Practical applications

Which is when a theory can be used to help couples in real life relationships who are experiencing dissatisfaction

This is because by identifying how a relationship can breakdown, it can be used to save the relationship by developing maintenance strategies

E.g. duck recommends that in the intra-psychic phase individuals should focus on the attractive elements of their partner to reduce their negative feelings