Theories Of Romantic Relationships, Ducks Phase Model Of Relationship Breakdown

Question 1

What did Duck propose about relationship breakdown

Answer 1

-Relationships breakdown is a 4 stage process
-Each phase is marked by one or both partners reaching a threshold within their relationship where their perception of the relationship changes

Question 2

What are the 4 stages

Answer 2

-Intrapsychic
-Dyadic
-Social
-Grave dressing

Question 3

Intrapsychic phase

Answer 3

-Focuses on the cognitive processes
-The partner releases their dissatisfaction, usually based on the shortcomings of their partner
-They privately weigh up pros and cons, sometimes telling an entrusted friend
-Threshold-I cant stand this anymore

Question 4

Dyadic phase

Answer 4

-Focuses on the interpersonal processes between two partners
-Confront the partner to talk about dissatisfaction
-Characterized by anxiety, hostility, complaints about lack of equity, resenting imbalanced roles, rethinking commitment
- Either ends with a renewed desire to fix the relationship or a determination to continue breaking up the relationship
-Threshold-I would be justified in withdrawing

Question 5

Social phase

Answer 5

-Focuses on the inclusion of the partners wider networks, family and friends
-Partners seek support
-Mutual friends are expected to take sides
-Some friends will be encouraging and reassuring whilst others are judgemental and blame the other partner
-Previously hidden information is revealed
-Some will help repair the relationship and others will try and hasten the breakup
-The break up takes on momentum, driven by social forces
-Threshold-I mean it

Question 6

Grave dressing phase

Answer 6

-Focuses on the aftermath
-Partners try and bury the relationship by spinning the story to save face and maintain a positive reputation
-Gossip plays an important role
-Traits you previously found endearing are now interpreted negatively at the expense of the ex partner
-Threshold-Its now inevitable

Question 7

Incomplete model

Answer 7

-Rollie and Duck
-Modified a 5th phase called the resurrection phase which is when partners focus on future relationships, using information gained from the past one
-It’s also possible to regress to previous phases

-Original model doesn’t account for the dynamic natures of break ups with their inherent uncertainty and complexity

Question 8

Culture bias

Answer 8

-Moghaddam
-The research underlying the model is based on individualist cultures like the USA
-Individualist cultures have voluntary relationships which frequently end in divorce and separation
-Lots of collectivist cultures have obligatory, less easy to end relationships involving the wider family, sometimes even arranged

-Unlikely that the process of relationship breakdown is the same across all cultures

Question 9

Real world applications

Answer 9

-Identifies different repair strategies are more effective at different points in the relationship phases than others
-Duck recommended that people in the intra psychic stage should be encouraged to focus on the positive aspects of their partner
-Practical applications in couples therapy