Duck’s phase model Flashcards

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1
Q

Phase model of relationship breakdown

A

Explanation of the stages of when a relationship is not working, once a partner is dissatisfied they enter the four stages

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2
Q

Who proposed the phase model?

A

Steve Duck - 2007

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3
Q

Phase model

A

Breakdown is not a one-off event but distinct phases

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4
Q

Threshold

A

Each phase is marked by realising a change is needed

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5
Q

Intra-psychic phase

A

The dissatisfied partner thinks about reasons why they are unhappy, weighing up the pros and cons of ending or continuing the relationship
“I can’t stand this anymore”

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6
Q

Dyadic phase

A

Partners discuss the state of their relationship, airing their dissatisfactions in an atmosphere of hostility and resentment
“I would be justified in withdrawing”

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7
Q

Social phase

A

The break-up is made public and period of forming alliances in which mutual friends are expected to take sides
“I mean it”

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8
Q

grave dressing phase

A

The relationship is over and former partners spin their version of breakdown for public consumption and prepare for the next relationship
“It’s now inevitable”

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9
Q

EVAL - real-world application

A

P - strength as model suggests ways in which relationship breakdown can be reversed
E - people in intra-psychic phase could be encouraged to focus their worrying on positive aspects and dyadic phase has communication that can help relationships
E - model is useful as it recognises that there are different repair strategies at some points in the breakdown
L - can be used in relationship counselling to help people through difficult times

Counterpoint
P - model based on relationship breakdowns in individualist cultures
E - Moghaddam et al - relationships in individualist cultures voluntary and frequently come to an end while in collectivist cultures its less easy to end the relationship and involves the whole family
E - conception of romantic relationships differ between cultures, cultural relativism
L - model’s application would not be useful in all cultures

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10
Q

EVAL - incomplete model

A

P - limitation as original model is an incomplete explanation
E - new model added a fifth phase after grave dressing where ex-partners apply past experiences to future relationship
E - progression from one phase is not inevitable and processes are more important than linear movement from one phase to the next
L - original model does not account for complexity of breakdown

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11
Q

EVAL - early phases are less understood

A

P - limitation as it under-explains early phases of breakdown
E - research is retrospective as participants report experiences some time after relationship has ended, partners can be in intra-psychic phase for long time to distorted
E - recall may not always be accurate especially for early stages of relationship
L - model may not explain early part of breakdown process as well as later phases

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12
Q

EVAL - description rather than explanation

A

P - describes process of relationship using phases
E - felmlee’s fatal attraction hypothesis focuses on why rather than what happens
E - trait led to initial attraction may later be seen as undesirable such as humour and not taking anything seriously
L - other explanations may be more effective in explaining the relationship breakdown of some relationships

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