Duck's Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown 2007

Question 1

How many stages are there to Duck’s phase model

Answer 1

4 main stages however added an additional 5th stage later

Question 2

what is the first stage of Duck’s relationship breakdown

Answer 2

Intra-psychic phase

Question 3

what is the intra-psychic phase

Answer 3

• when a person admits to themselves that they are dissatisfied with their relationship
• lots of time thinking about reasons for this dissatisfaction
• internal thought processes which occur before confronting partner

Question 4

what is the second stage of Duck’s phase model

Answer 4

Dyadic

Question 5

what does the dyadic phase of Duck’s model include

Answer 5

• person confronts partner and voices their dissatisfaction
• dissatisfied partner rethinks alternatives

Question 6

What is the 3rd phase of Duck’s model

Answer 6

social phase

Question 7

what does the social phase of Duck’s 2007 model include

Answer 7

• make their distress public by telling friends and family
• makes it more difficult to mend relationship as friends/ fam take sides and give advice
• usually leads to the dissolution of the relationship

Question 8

what is the 4th phase of Duck’s relationship breakdown model

Answer 8

grave dressing

Question 9

what does grave dressing involve

Answer 9

• both sides conduct their version of why the relationship broke down
• minimise personal faults and maximise partners
• signifies the closure of the previous relationship and readiness to start a new one

Question 10

what is the 5th phase of Duck’s phase model of relationship breakdown

Answer 10

resurrection phase

Question 11

what is the resurrection phase

Answer 11

• people move beyond the pain and distress associated with the end of a relationship
• experience personal growth

Question 12

who conducted supporting research into the resurrection stage

Answer 12

Tashiro and Frazier

Question 13

how did Tashiro and Frazier’s research support the resurrection stage

Answer 13

undergraduates who had recently broken up reported experiencing personal growth as a result of it

Question 14

why is Duck’s use of retrospective data a limitation?

Answer 14

• memories of the event may not be accurate
• answers may not be reliable as they may be coloured by current situation
• does not explain relationship breakdown as it happens; weakens the model’s ability to present an accurate picture of relationship breakdown

Question 15

why did Duck’s methodology present potential ethical issues

Answer 15

• research into break ups may cause psychological harm
• ppt may be reminded of a traumatic event or of the pain caused by breakup

Question 16

what is a limitation of the social phase

Answer 16

greatly affected by individual differences (especially age)
- older couples relationships are viewed as more distressing by family and friends and may encourage them to stay together more than teenage relationships

Question 17

how can Duck’s model of relationship breakdown be applied to couples counselling

Answer 17

example: if an individual is in the intra-psychic phase of breakdown then the counsellor may encourage them to think of positive aspects of their partner
- used to help couples successfully contemplate relationship and to stay together

Question 18

how does Duck’s phase model present a culture bias

Answer 18

• based on relationships from individualist cultures where ending a relationship is a voluntary choice
• not the same for collectivist cultures as there mat be more stigma or familial involvement in relationship

Question 19

what are the 5 stages of Duck’s relationship breakdown

Answer 19

1. intra-psychic phase
2. dyadic phase
3. social phase
4. ‘grave dressing’
5. resurrection phase