Duck's Model of Relationship Dissolution Flashcards
What is Duck’s Model?
Sees the breakdown of relationships through several phases. Duck & Rollie (2006) developed a six-phase model of termination of close or intimate relationships.
What are the Intra-Psychic Processes?
-When one partner or a friend becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the relationship.
-Looks at relationship and may see the other partner in negative terms, promoting a social withdrawal so that they can nurse their wounds.
-Grievances have not yet been aired, more thinking occurs - if dissatisfaction still occurs they will progress to next stage.
What are the Dyadic Processes?
-When the other partner becomes involved after they declare their resentment to them.
-Relationship can be saved by effective communication and a resolve on part of both parties to address problems.
-May also highlight weaknesses, if dissatisfaction still occurs they will progress to next stage.
What are the Social Processes?
-When the breakup is aired and made public to e.g. friends and family, and social implications are negotiated.
-Advice from relatives to listen to, may mend relationship or delay its conclusion.
-Each partner justifies the breakup, sometimes blaming the other.
-If not saved, goes to final stage.
What are the Grave-Dressing Processes?
-Ex-partners begin the organisation of post-relationship lives and begin publicising their own accounts of the breakdown and new nature of relationship with ex-partner.
-Does not necessarily mean both accounts are the same, often differ.
-Makes sure their account of the split does not deter potential new partners by putting themselves in a good light.
What are 2 strengths of Duck’s Model of Dissolution?
Recognises that breakdown is a process & can be applied to all types of breakdowns:
-Importanr insight and now widely accepted.
-Applies to friendships as well as sexual relationships.
-Common and crucial factor is that relationship is long-term and embraced many parts of partners emotions and everyday life.
Face validity as it is an account of breakdowns most people can relate to.
Social Processes Phase takes account of wider picture of break-up:
-Does not focus exclusively on individual partner, but takes their social context into account.
-Duck states that breakups involves the ‘psychological sense of integrity of the person’
Therefore has face validity as it represents a key feature of relationship dissolution in real-life.
What are 2 limitations of Duck’s Model of Dissolution?
Not all individuals progress through all 4 phases:
-Some relationships may terminate instantly e.g. if they found out a partner has been unfaithful.
-Neither individual in this case would progress through the suggested processes by Duck.
Therefore does not apply to relationship breakdowns in all instances.
Based on research with heterosexual couples:
-May not represent the experiences of homosexual relationships.
-Decisions over children may not be experiences by homosexual people, despite this feature not always included in heterosexual relationships and some homosexual couples do decide to raise children.
Generally speaking the two rekationsjos have a number of key differences and we should explore the breakdown processes of other understudied relationships before drawing conclusions on them.
