Psychology - Relationships - Duck's phase model of relationship breakdown Flashcards
When does relationship breakdown occur?
When one or both people in the relationship feel that it is not working and wish to end the relationships
When did Duck introduce the phase model of relationship breakdown?
1982
How does the process of breakdown begin according to Duck (1982)?
When one partner becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the way the relationship has conducted
What are the 4 phases of relationship breakdown according tho Duck (1982)?
Intrapsychic phase, Dyadic phase, Social phase and Grave dressing phase
Intrapsychic phase
The dissatisfied person privately thinks about the relationships issues and focuses on the partners faults and the fact that they are āunder benefittingā leading to them re-evaluating the relationship.
How may the person initiating the break up feel in the intrapsychic phase?
They may feel very depressed and withdraw from social interactions with their partners. They wonāt say anything yet but feel they are better off leaving the relationship.
Dyadic phase
A private discussion whereby partners communicate with each other about their problems or perceived inequities and think carefully about investments they have in the relationship
What may cause a reconciliation during the Dyadic phase?
If the other partner accepts the validity of the dissatisfied partners views and promises to change their behaviour or make agreements to sort out issues. Marital therapy may help.
Social phase
It is made public to friends and family so people become informed and the problem is harder to ignore. Advice and support are given from people outside the relationship and alliances are made, former partners could be criticised and scapegoated.
What differences are there between younger adults and older couples (social phase)?
Younger adults may experience breakdown frequently in this period as they are testing the market to find an ideal partner. Older couples experience it less frequently and may not want to find a new partner.
Grave-dressing phase
There is a need to mourn and justify our actions, an account of what the relationship was like and why it broke down is created. Ex partners post and publicise their accounts of the breakdown and they new lives, keeping their social credit.
What are the strengths of Ducks model of relationship breakdown?
- Temporal improvements made by Rollie (2006) and Frazier (2003) - Research support from social exchange theory by Kelley
What are the weaknesses of Ducks model of relationship breakdown?
- Akert (1998) criticised the model - Ignores gender differences, Kassin (1996) - Ethical issues - reductionist
What improvements have been made to Duckās model, by Rollie (2006)?
Introduced a fifth stage called the resurrection stage.
Rollie (2006), The Resurrection stage
Where the person engages in personal growth and gets prepared for new romantic relationships that they can start
What did Frazier (2003) do to improve Ducks model?
Studied 92 undergraduate students who had just broken up with their partner and found they experienced both emotional distress and personal growth (links to resurrection)
What research supported Rollieās (2006) fifth phase of Ducks model?
Frazier (2003)
How did Rollie (2006) and Frazier (2003) improve Ducks model through finding about the resurrection phase?
It now includes how a person can get over their relationship and prepare for a new one so it is not all gloomy.
How does social exchange theory by Kelley provide research support for Ducks model?
It states that if a relationship has high costs and minimal rewards then the relationship is not worth continuing and a breakdown would occur. It can be analysed from the same perspective as the social exchange theory.
Why did Akert (1998) criticise Ducks model?
The role people had in deciding the fate of the relationship was the most important prediction in the breakdown experience.
What did Akert (1998) find about people who did not initiate the end of the relationship?
They were most miserable, lonely, depressed and angry in weeks after the relationship ended.
What did Akert (1998) find about people who initiated the end of the relationship?
They were least stressed and least upset but felt guilty
What does Akert state Duckās model doesnāt consider?
Ducks model does not consider the role that people played in the relationship breakdown
How does Kassin (1996) believe gender differences show up in Ducks work?
Kassin found research evidence to suggest females emphasise unhappiness, lack of emotional support and incompatibility as reasons for relationship breakdown but males state a lack of sex/fun. Females wish to stay friends but males donāt.
What are the ethical issues with the model proposed by Duck?
Itās a socially sensitive topic so psychological harm may be an issue when people recall their past relationships and invasion of privacy may be an issue.
How could Duckās model avoid ethical issues?
He should not ask too many probing questions that could cause upset and all results should ensure confidentiality and anonymity for participants.
How can Ducks model be seen as reductionist?
Reduces the complex phenomenon of relationship breakdown into 4 parts and in the real world or would be more unpredictable.
