ducks model of relationship breakdown

Question 1

what does ducks model suggest?

Answer 1

suggests that the breakdown of a relationship is not a single event, but rather a system of stages which a couple progress through which incorporate the end of a relationship.

Question 2

what are the stages of ducks model?

Answer 2

1. intra psychic stage.
2. dyadic stage.
3. social stage.
4. grave dressing stage.
5. resurrection stage.

Question 3

what is the intra psychic stage?

Answer 3

this is when a person admits to themselves they are dissatisfied with their relationship.

they spend time thinking about the pros and cons of the relationship and possible alternatives.

this stage focuses on a persons internal thought process that occurs before confronting their partner.

Question 4

what is the threshold of the intra psychic stage?

Answer 4

’ I can’t stand this anymore ‘

Question 5

what is the dyadic stage?

Answer 5

this occurs when a person confronts their partner and voices their dissatisfaction.

this can take place over weeks or days. discussions will often focus on the equity of the relationship.

Question 6

what is the threshold of the dyadic stage?

Answer 6

‘I would be justified in withdrawing’

Question 7

what is the social stage?

Answer 7

once the conflict reaches this stage, it is more difficult for a couple to mend their relationship.

friends and family may take sides, intervene in the relationships and offer advice - which makes the reconciliation much more problematic.

Question 8

what is the threshold of the social stage?

Answer 8

‘I mean it’

Question 9

what is the grave dressing stage?

Answer 9

having left their partner, both sides construct their version of why the relationship broke down.

they will minimise their faults and maximise their partners and at the same time trying to retain their social value and not lowering their chances to attract a new partner.

this process is called grave dressing, signifying the closure of the previous relationship and readiness to start a new one.

Question 10

what is the threshold of the grave dressing stage?

Answer 10

‘its now inevitable’

Question 11

what stage did Duck and Rollie add to the original model?

Answer 11

the resurrection stage.

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

Question 12

limitation: does not explain the reasons for breakdown.

Answer 12

whilst the model may be a relevant description of the breakdown of relationships, it does not explain what leads to the initial breakdown of the relationship.

For example, other models of relationships such as SET explains why partners choose to stay in relationships which increases the usefulness of this model.

Therefore, whilst the model explains the stages of a relationship breakdown it does not give many strategies to overcome a relationship breakdown, apart from increased communication.

Despite this, the model work similarly to the stages of the grief model which is still useful in helping some people deal with loss as they can understand the process which can be comforting for some.

Question 13

limitation: methodological limitations

Answer 13

it is based on research which has methodological limitations.

Participants generally give their experiences for the breakdown process sometime after the relationship has ended. This means that they may not be able to recall accurately or reliably the factors that led down to the breakdown of the relationship. It is often the early stages of the breakdown that tend to get distorted or even ignored.

The problem with trying to research this area is ethics. A researcher would be very reluctant to study a relationship in its healthy stages whilst waiting for the relationship breakdown.

Therefore, it is likely there will always be methodological problems which challenges the validity of the theory.

Question 14

strength: real life application

Answer 14

A strength of Duck’s phase model is that it had good real-life applications in a relationship counselling context.

The model allows relationship therapists to identify the phase of a breakdown that couples are in and then identify strategies which target the issues at that particular stage.

For example, Duck (1994) recommends that couples in the intrapsychic phase should be encouraged to think about the positive rather than the negative aspects of their partner.

This means that the model is useful in a real world setting and can help improve people’s relationships.