Duck's Phase Model

Question 1

2 Strengths of Duck’s Phase Model

Answer 1

1. Support for resurrection phase - Frasier et al (2003)

2. Useful application - couple’s counselling

Question 2

What is the resurrection phase?

Answer 2

In 2006, Duck and his colleague Rollie proposed an addition to the model: the resurrection phase.

They suggested that at this stage people move beyond the pain and distress associated with ending the relationship, and experience personal growth.

Question 3

Useful application - couple’s counselling

Answer 3

Duck’s model has useful applications, especially in relation to couples’ counselling. Couples may be advised to use different strategies depending on the phase they are currently in. For example, for a person in the intra-psychic phase it may be more useful to shift their attention to the positive aspects of their partner’s personality, while for a couple in the dyadic phase communication about dissatisfaction and ways to balance relationships is crucial.

This shows that Duck’s model of relationship breakdown can be used successfully to help couples contemplating break-up to improve their relationships and stay together.

Question 4

2 Weaknesses of Duck’s Phase Model

Answer 4

1. Culture Bias

2. Based on retrospective data

Question 5

Culture Bias

Answer 5

The model is based on relationships from individualist cultures, where ending the relationships is a voluntary choice, and separation and divorce are easily obtainable and do not carry stigma.

However, this may not be the case in collectivist cultures, where relationships are sometimes arranged by wider family members, and characterised by greater family involvement.

This makes the relationship difficult to end, which means that the break-up process will not follow the phases proposed by Duck. As a result, Duck’s model is culturally biased as it assumes that break-up process is universal, which is clearly not the case.

Question 6

Based on retrospective data

Answer 6

Most of the research examining relationship breakdown is based on retrospective data, using questionnaires or interviews to ask participants about the break-up some time after it happened. People’s memories of the event may not be accurate, and may also be coloured by their current situation, which means that their answers are not reliable. This means Duck’s phase model, even though it seems to be supported by research, does not necessarily describe how break-up happens in real life, weakening the model’s ability to present an accurate picture of relationship breakdown.