Lesson 9 - Relationship Breakdown by Duck Flashcards
What is relationship breakdown?
Relationship breakdown is when one or both people in the relationship feel that it is not working, and wish the relationship to end.
Who made the phase model of relationship breakdown?
Duck
What are the 4 phases of relationship breakdown?
Intrapsychic processes
Dyadic Processes
Social Processes
Grave Dressing Processes
What are intrapsychic processes?
This is characterised by the dissatisfied person privately thinking about their relationship and brooding about problems. The dissatisfied partner focuses on their partner’s faults, and the fact that they are under benefitting. They will tell no one at this stage.
What are dyadic processes?
This involves a private confrontation with the partner. They communicate about their problems, and think carefully about their investments. If the person still believes they should withdraw, the breakdown process will continue.
What are social processes?
If there is a breakup, it is then made public to family and friends. People often give support and advice from outside the relationship, and alliances are formed. This often involves criticising the former partner and scape goating.
What are grave dressing processes?
As the relationship dies and breaks down, there is need to mourn and justify one’s actions. The person forms an account of what the relationship was like and why it broke down. Ex partners begin their post relationship lives, and begin to publicise accounts of how it broke down, while trying to keep their social credit high. The versions of the stories may differ, in order for the teller to keep themselves in the right.
Evaluation of Duck’s model - Rollie (Resurrection stage)
Duck teamed up with a psychologist known as Rollie in 2006 to introduce a fifth stage.
This is known as “The Resurrection Stage”, where the person engages in personal growth and gets ready for a new relationship.
Evaluation of Duck’s model - Akert
Akert (1998) found that the role people had in deciding if the relationship should breakdown, was the most important prediction of the breakdown experience. Those that did not want to initiate the end of the relationship were the most miserable in the weeks after the relationship. Those who initiated were the least stressed and upset, but did feel guilty.
Evaluation of Duck’s model - Kassin (Gender Differences)
Kassin (1996) found that females emphasise unhappiness, lack of emotional support and incompatibility as reasons for relationship breakdown, whereas males state a lack of sex and fun. Females often wish to stay friends, whereas guys do not.
Gender differences must be considered.
Evaluation of Duck’s model - Ethical Issues
Relationship breakdown is a socially sensitive topic, and there are many ethical issues that may arise from the research. For example, psychological harm might be an issue when people are recalling why their relationship broke down and the impact of this. Invasion of privacy is also an issue that Duck would have to address when conducting research.
What factors did Duck identify as reasons for marriage breakdown?
Partners that marry young;
Partners that become parents when young;
Parents from different socioeconomic backgrounds;
Partners that have different social demographic backgrounds;
Partners with divorced parents.
Evaluation of Duck’s research - Kerckhoff and Davis (Filter Theory)
Duck’s research can be supported by the filter theory. Duck claimed that different social demographic backgrounds cause divorces more often, and the filter theory tends this is the most important filter. This means that Duck is likely right if another theory backs it up.
Evaluation of Duck’s research - Bowlby (Internal Working Model)
Duck’s research is supported by Bowlby and the internal working model. Duck states that people with divorced parents are more likely to have an unstable marriage. This could be because the experience of having divorced parents may affect the internal working model.
Evaluation of Duck’s research - Brehm
Brehm (1992) stated that there are other factors that can lead to breakdown / divorce, such as “structural factors” (duration, children, strain of work and poor conflict resolution).
