ducks phase model

Question 1

duck

Answer 1

proposed phase model of relationship breakdown - argued end of relationship is process that takes time and goes through 4 distinct stages.

road to break up begins once partner realises they’re dissatisfied with the relationship

Question 2

intra psychic

Answer 2

cognitive processes occurring within individual. dissatisfied partner broods on reasons for dissatisfaction, centring mostly on their partner’s shortcomings.

weigh pros and cons of relationship and evaluate against alternatives.

Question 3

dyadic phase

Answer 3

series of confrontations over period of time in which relationship is discussed and dissatisfactions are aired.

two possible outcomes - determination to continue ending relationship, or renewed desire to repair it.

Question 4

social phase

Answer 4

break up made public, partners seek support and mutual friends feel expected to pick a side.

some friends provide reassurance others are judgemental and place blame on one partner or the other,

usually point of no return - break up takes on momentum driven by social forces

Question 5

grave dressing

Answer 5

once relationship end, partners ‘spin’ favourable story about breakdown to public to maintain positive reputation, usually at expense of other partner.

each partner tries to retain ‘social credit’ by blaming everything and anything but themselves

Question 6

evaluation - incomplete model

Answer 6

rollie & duck - original model is oversimplified, modified it to add a 5th phase - resurrection phase - ex partners turn attention to future relationships using experiences gained from recently ended one.

clarify that progression from one phase to next isn’t inevitable. new model emphasises processes that occur in relationship breakdown rather than linear movement from one phase to next.

changes overcome weakness of original model that its limited as it doesn’t account for dynamic nature of break ups with inherent uncertainty and complexity

Question 7

evaluation - methodological issues

Answer 7

most research relating to duck’s model is retrospective - participants generally give experiences of breakdown process some time after relationship has ended meaning what they recall might be inaccurate - lacks validity

Question 8

evaluation - useful real life applications

Answer 8

suggests various ways of reversing stages of relationship breakdown

useful as it recognises different repair strategies are more effective at particular points in breakdown than others.

duck - recommends people in intra psychic phase could be encouraged to focus bonding on positive aspects of partner.