3.2 - Relationships (set C - Ducks Model Of Relationship Breakdown + Virtual Relationships + Parasocial) Flashcards
Outline the 4 phases of the ducks phase model of relationship?
- intro-psychic
- dyadic
- social
- grave dressing phases
Briefly outline the idea of ducks phase model of relationship breakdown?
Idea the ending of a relationship isn’t a one-off event but a process with different specific phases
- each phase marker by either one or both partners reaching a ‘threshold’ where the perception of the relationship changes
Outline what happens during stage one - intra-psychic phase?
Cognitive processing - try to work out what is making you dissatisfied (leads to blaming their partners flaws in a negative way)
- privately consult their thoughts and weigh up the pros and cons
- start to plan for the future
Outline what happens during stage 2 - dyadic phase?
Interpersonal processing between 2 partners - dissatisfactions brought out with confrontations and discussions
- 2 outcomes - try to salvage and repair the relationship or agree to break up
if rescue attempts fails, threshold met
Outline what happens during stage 3 - social phase?
Wider processing involving the couples social network - becomes public knowledge
- as individuals you might expect mutual friends to pick sides (some friends will provide reassurance others may be more judgmental forcing blame)
- some may reveal previous information kept secret (eg friends knew you girlfriend cheated) - considered point of no return
Outline what happens during stage 4 - grave dressing phase?
Main focus is the aftermath of the breakup
- ex partners will spin a story about the breakout suitable to tell in public
- your going to make yourself look in the best possible light to retain social credit to allow for further dating
- might involve you diminishing the other party - downplaying traits into negative connotations
Explain the fifth stage of ducks model which was added later [AO3]?
- original model was modified due to criticisms for it being incomplete
- ex-partners
Evaluate the strengths of ducks model of relationship breakdown?
- looks like it explains how people breakup and the processes involved, does not tell us why people break up (which is positive as it would make it too subjective) - face validity
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Evaluate the weaknesses of ducks model of relationship breakdown?
- may not apply to all situations - extreme cases like abuse could mean you don’t go through any phases another example is if a partner cheats which can end the relationship straight away (phases are not worked through)
- model largely built on retrospective, self-report evidence
- founded on western culture - wont be applicable to all countries - eg permanent relationships
Outline research support for ducks model of breakdown?
Study where college students who had recently split from partners reported their breakdown did follow the stages outlined by Duck
- final stage for them was a period of growth that enabled them to move on from the relationship (explains why 5th stage was added)
Outline brief research support for dyadic processes for ducks model of relationship breakdown?
- research found people tend to go for marriage guidance counselling after initial dissatisfaction has been expressed - usually try to save relationship
- may not be applicable to every relationship - ST relationships are unlikely to go through this as LT relationships will be more focused on trying to save the relationship due more too loose
Outline and explain real life application of the model?
- allows identification of various stages - as well as suggesting ways to reverse the stages (useful for marriage counselling)
- different repair strategies are more useful at different stages of relationships
- grave dressing enables a positive view - time for reflection for leaning and changing
What are virtual relationships?
Relationships we form online
- will lack physical cues and a level of intimacy
What is self-disclosure?
Gradual process where you release personal information about yourself - more revealed as the romantic relationship develops
- social media means people develop and maintain romantic relationships without ever meeting in person
- sharing really personal information too early can put people off in person but does not seem to be the case online
Explain the effect of self disclosure and self-presentation regarding social media?
- some people will be ‘hyper-honest’ - in their self disclosure worth online relationships develop very quickly because self-disclosure happens earlier - thus relationship becomes more intense and more intimate
- can manipulate images - makes it easier to manipulate self-disclosure promoting intimacy
- reason some people become ‘hyper-honest’ online is due to anonymity which allows them to feel less accountable for your behaviour
- hyper-dishonest - pretending to be someone your not
Outline conclusions from studies into virtual relationships and why they might not be successful?
- less effective as we miss cues we would receive in person (eg non-verbal cues like appearance)
- de-individualisation - reduces individuals sense of individual identity - leading to hype-honesty
Unlikely to want someone who is impersonal
Outline research support for virtual relationships - looking at American, Korean and Japanese?
- found American participants reported that greater disclosure in virtual relationships was associated with more trust while Korean participants reported this led to less trust
- self disclosure was not a factor for Japanese participants
- people tend to ask questions which were direct and intimate - with FTF relationships focus would be on small talk - suggests we virtually self-disclose in an exaggeratedly positive light which aids relationship formation
Outline and explain the hyper personal model?
- predicts people to be either ‘hyper-honest’ or ‘hyper-dishonest’ in their self disclosure
- virtual relationships can develop quickly because self disclosure happens earlier leading to to more intense and intimate relationships (can end more quickly)
- anonymity may lead you us feel else accountable for our behaviour and disclose more about ourselves to strangers (research found people would ask more direct and intimate questions on online discussions as opposed to FTF which was more small talk)
What how absence of gating works online?
Virtually you can be whoever you want to be, can upload whatever photos you want to, creating a persona which is not you
- perception lasts as long as you don’t meet
What is a ‘gate’ - what are features?
A feature or obstacle that could interfere with the development of a relationship
- gates can be physical - eg disfigurement. Speech impediment or personality trait (eg shy)
two people could be compatible and attracted to one another - but a gate prevents this from happening
FTF relationships display more ‘gates’ than virtual relationships
Outline the role of absence of gating in relationship formation?
Allows relationships to develop and self-disclosure become more frequent and deeper which may not necessarily occur with FTF relationships
- as relationship develops things like physical attraction may become less important - this allows people who are less attractive or socially inept to be able to express their true self, building meaningful relationship
Outline support for the role of virtual services and ‘gated’ individuals?
Online social networks empowered ‘gated’ individuals to present the identities they hoped to establish but were unable to do so in FTF situations
- enabled individuals to present a more socially desirable persona
Outline brief research support for absence of gating?
Study looked at virtual conversations used by lonely and socially anxious people
- people were able to express their ‘true selfs’ more than in FTF situations
- of the romantic relationships they formed online - 70% survived more than 2 years
- higher proportion than real world formations
What are the strengths of absence of gating in relationships - give 2?
- non verbal communication is not absent from virtual relationships - cues are just different (emojis can substitute for facial expressions and importance of timing of response)
- benefits of online relationships for people who may not be able to seek out company in real life due to anxiety, disfigurements and other problems
What are the weaknesses of absence of gating in relationships - give 2?
- cultural differences mediate effects of social media on relationships
- effects of more open self-disclosure (eg LT effects) relationships that begin online are more durable than other relationships
What is a parasocial relationship?
A relationship that resembles a relationship, but is one-sided - person who thinks they are in the relationship will invest emotional energy and time to the relationship - the other person is completely unaware of the persons existence
often with a celebrity
Explain the 3 levels of a parasocial relationship?
Entertainment-social (ES) - celebrity is a source of gossip/interaction (normal)
Intense-persona (IP) - intensive compulsive feelings towards celebrity - being pre-occupied by this person, may struggle to maintain other relationships (can be common for teenagers but grow out)
Borderline-pathological (BP) - uncontrollable behaviours/fantasies - can lead to stalking to try and get into celebrities life (believe feelings will be reciprocated if they met)
How do we calculate what level someone would be on the parasocial stages?
Measured by using the CAS (celebrity attitude scale)
- questionnaire with questions that you can SA,A,D,SD
Outline findings from the fixated threat assessment centre?
Deals with stalking - looked at 275 stalkers of the royal family and found:
- 83% had some form of psychosis (suggesting level 3 is a form of mental illness)
- 18% delusions of identity (though they were related)
- 12% infatuated
findings from studies in the US on other celebrities supported this
Outline what the absorption addiction model is?
Proposed to explain how parasocial relationships become abnormal
- theorised that absorption is an attempt to establish personal identity + with parasocial relationships making up for personal deficiencies (provide an escape from mundane lives)
- predicts an association between poorer mental health and the strength of the parasocial relationships
Outline the 2 levels of the absorption addiction model - absorption and addiction?
absorption
- seeking fulfilment in celebrity worship will motivate an individual to become absorbed in the celebrity’s existence and identify with them
addiction
- individual needs more intense involvement to sustain commitment and gain satisfaction
- can lead to extreme behaviours - eg delusional thinking
Outline the strengths of the absorption addiction model?
- study involving teenage females who reported intense personal relationships with female celebrity’s (who’s body shape the idolised) found these females tended to have poor body image (leading to ED)
- other study used questionnaire to assess the relationship between parasocial relationship level and personality - linked entertainment-social level with extrovert personality traits
Both studies show correlation between level of celebrity worship and disordered psychological functioning
Outline the weaknesses of the absorption addiction model - give 3?
- model describes characteristics of individuals at each level - does not explain why the different forms develop
- doesn’t allow us to help prevent the more disrupting aspects of the relationships - eg obsession or illegal behaviour (stalking)
- limited in explanatory power - says how the relationships start but not why + limited in application to supporting people whose obsessions are problematic
Explain the attachment theory for parasocial relationships?
- early difficulties in attachment may lead to difficulties in forming successful relationships later in life
- people with insecure-resistant attachment types are more likely to from parasocial relationships - due to need for close emotional relationships without risk of rejection (celebrity is unaware of relationship)
- do not require same social skills
Explain why some attachment types are at a higher pre-deposition to forming parasocial relationships?
Secure attachment - no need for such relationship as they have been raised with many satisfactory FTF relationships
Insecure avoidant - have issues of trust and are less likely to engage in behaviours that create intimacy in both real life relationships and parasocial - unlikely to seek them out
Insecure resistant - have a need for close emotional relationships without risk of rejection - which parasocial relationships offer (celebrity is unaware of them - no risk of rejection)
Outline strength for the attachment theory explanation for parasocial relationships - research support?
- research involving sample of 381 adults - questionnaires about attachment type and how they would react if favourite TV character was taken off air - found insecure resistant attachment styles anticipated the most negative responses (anger/sadness and loneliness)
Outline weakness for the attachment theory explanation for parasocial relationships - research support?
Study - participants with insecure attachments were No more likely to form parasocial relationships with celebrities than those with secure attachment styles
- gender differences in parasocial relationships - majority of fans of male pop groups/celebrities were young females - where as males have interest in male figures like sports stars
- appear to be universal across all culture - suggest evolutionary bassi for existence
