8. Duck's Phase Model

Question 1

what is Duck’s phase model?

Answer 1

an explanation of the stages people go through when dissatisfied with their relationship.

Question 2

what are the stages? explain them (4)

Answer 2

intra-psychic: personal contemplation of dissatisfaction within the relationship
dyadic: discusses dissatisfaction with partner
social: break up made public. some may hasten end of relationship - sides are picked.
grave-dressing: choose your story of break up. minimise your faults maximise your partners

Question 3

what change did Duck later make to the model?

Answer 3

• introduced 5th stage: resurrection: look to the future, personal growth.

Question 4

what are the methodological issues that arise from the model? (2)

Answer 4

• data collected is retrospective (bias and forgetting)

- hard to research relationship break downs ethically without interfering

Question 5

what stage is culturally bound - how?

Answer 5

social - may not be easy to leave. i.e. collectivist cultures promote arranged marriages

Question 6

what criticism of the model is there? (4)

Answer 6

• Rollie and Duck: model oversimplified. Movement not necessarily consecutive.
• Flemlee: fatal attraction hypothesis, what attracts you to them may be reason for break up. I.e. funny to cant take anything seriously.
• Application to counselling, but model argues likely too far gone at this stage as made social.
• Not appropriate, measures how a breakup occurs, not why.