relationship breakdown

Question 1

list the different phases of a relationship breakdown

Answer 1

1) intrapsychic phase
2) the dyadic phase
3) social phase
4) grave-dressing phase

Question 2

what is Duck’s Phase model of relationship breakdown

Answer 2

a model of relationship breakdown that describes the different phases people go through during the dissolution of a romantic relationship

Question 3

outline the intrapsychic phase

Answer 3

started by feelings of dissatisfaction characterised by a brooding focus on the relationship and consideration if they may be better off out the relationship

individuals feel burdened by feelings of resentment or being under benefitted

individuals may not say anything to their partner but may express dissatisfaction in other ways such as withdrawal

Question 4

outline the dyadic phase

Answer 4

individuals confront their partners and begin to discuss their feeling about the future of the relationship- at this point feelings of guilt or anger are likely to surface

couples may become aware of forces which bind them together such as investments and the costs which would incur should the relationship end

at this stage the relationship might be saved if both partners are motivated to resolve the issues and avoid breakup ie marital therapy

Question 5

outline the social phase

Answer 5

at this points dissatisfaction is made public to a network of friends and family
this makes it harder for the 2 partners to deny there is really a problem as well as increasing difficulty of a resolution

others may give advice or take sides

Question 6

outline the grave dressing phase

Answer 6

where partners attempt to justify their actions after leaving the relationship
each partner must present themselves to others as being trustworthy and loyal if they are to attract a new partner

partners construct a representation of the failed relationship so they aren’t seen in unfavourable terms

Question 7

evaluate ducks phase model of relationship breakdown

Answer 7

1) an incomplete model- his theory is oversimplified for example rollie and duck stated that the process of breakdown does not stop after grave dressing, there is a further step by which we move onto a new relationship learning from the old one and trying to do things differently= the resurrection phase. This shows the model ignores the dynamic nature of breakups and as a result, the explanatory power of the duck’s phase model is reduced.
2) issue and debate= culture bias, the model, and most of the research underlying it are based on experiences of westernized relationships, especially in the USA. This is an issue as according to research, relationships in individualist cultures are more voluntary and frequently come to an end compared to collectivist cultures which are more obligatory and less easy to end as they tend to involve a wider family, and in some cases, even arranged marriages. This suggests that it is highly unlikely relationship breakdown is consistent across all cultures, decreasing validity.
3) real-life applications- the model helps us to identify and understand the stages of relationship breakdown but also suggests various ways of reversing it. It recognizes that different repair strategies are more effective than others at different phases of breakdown. These insights can be applied to relationship counseling, helping aid individuals’ and partners’ relationships. This increases the validity of the Ducks model.

4) research methods- ethical issues- research surrounds a sensitive area, raising issues of vulnerability, privacy, and confidentiality. A guiding principle in all research s that the benefits of undertaking the research must outweigh the risks, such as the impact on the participant. This is a difficult issue when dealing with vulnerable individuals attempting to cope with the trauma and emotional distress associated with a break up- therefore researchers must consider the interests of the PPS when exploring their research questions
- also based off of retrospective research