Breakdown of relationships Flashcards
Phases
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
Intrapsychic phase
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
Dyadic phase
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
Social phase
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
Grave dressing phase
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
5 types of relationship breakdowns
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
Strength 1
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
Strength 2
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
Limit 1
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
Limit 2
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
Strength 3
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
