Paper 3 - Relationships - Break Ups

Question 1

What is the model called in this phase?

Answer 1

Duck’s phase model

Question 2

What are the main reasons that Duck’s phase model say there are for break ups?

Answer 2

Pre existing doom
Mechanical failure
Sudden death

Question 3

Explain pre existing doom?

Answer 3

incompatibility and failure are fairly much guaranteed from the start of a relationship

Question 4

Explain mechanical failure

Answer 4

a couple may be too compatible and get tired of each other and as a result they find that they can’t live together

Question 5

Explain sudden death

Answer 5

discovery of infidelity or the occurrence of a traumatic incident (such as Cancere or a huge argument) which leads to the end of a relationship

Question 6

What are some other factors that may cause break ups which are predicted by Duck’s phase model?

Answer 6

Predisposing personal factors
Participating factors
Lack of skills
Lack of motivation
Lack of maintenance

Question 7

Explain predisposing factors?

Answer 7

an individuals bad habits such as not brushing teeth

Question 8

Explain participating factors

Answer 8

an external factor that effects the relationship eg longer hours, love rivals

Question 9

Explain lack of skills

Answer 9

Mostly in bed

Question 10

Why may there be lack of motivation?

Answer 10

If there is inequity or inequality

Question 11

Explain lack of maintenance

Answer 11

You may spend too much time apart

Question 12

What are the different phases of a break up?

Answer 12

Inta psychic phase
Dyadic phase
Social phase
Grave - dressing phase

Question 13

What is the threshold of the inta psychic phase?

Answer 13

Threshold: thinking “i can’t stand this anymore” which indicates that something has to change

Question 14

What is the threshold for the dyadic phase?

Answer 14

Threshold: thinking “i would be justified in withdrawing”

Question 15

What is the threshold in the social phase?

Answer 15

Threshold: I mean it

Question 16

What is the threshold in the grave - dressing phase

Answer 16

Threshold “it is now inevitable”

Question 17

What is the main thing in the intra psychic phase?

Answer 17

Internal assessment

Question 18

What is the main thing in the dyadic phase?

Answer 18

Open communication

Question 19

What is the main thing in the social phase?

Answer 19

Communication with friends and family

Question 20

What is the main point in the grave - dressing phase?

Answer 20

Polishing of accounts

Question 21

Describe the intra psychic phase

Answer 21

Threshold: thinking “i can’t stand this anymore” which indicates that something has to change
This is a cognitive process and the partner is not involved in this
The partner assesses the role of the others performance
They ponders on the dissatisfaction focusing on their partners shortcomings
They weigh up the pros and cons and evaluate against the alternatives and they consider the cost of withdrawal
Make plans about discussing it with the other or suppressing it

Question 22

Describe the dyadic phase

Answer 22

Threshold: thinking “i would be justified in withdrawing”
You confront the partner
Negotiations start where the dissatisfaction is shared and anger may be shown as well as resentment
There may be an attempt to repair and reconcilliat
Both partners asses joint costs of withdrawal or reduced intimacy

Question 23

Describe the social phase

Answer 23

Threshold: “i mean it”
At the start of the social phase the couples essentially hold a performance review of the relationship
There is intimate gossip/discussion in social networks were you seek support
Creation of public face saving/blame stories and accounts
Some friends may try to end the relationship sooner whilst some may try to fix it
The point of no return is reached as social forces are now great enough to ensure that the relationship will end

Question 24

Describe the grave dressing phase

Answer 24

Threshold “it is now inevitable”
You do “getting over it activities”
Retrospective, reformative post mortem attributions are made up such as creating a personal story which may differ from the public one (tidy up your memories)
You then publicly distribute your own version of the break up. Some psychologists say that the partners spread their own stories to try and gain social credit

Question 25

What are the negative evaluations of Duck’s phase model?

Answer 25

An incomplete model
Methodological issues
Ethical issues
Explanation power
Cultural bias

Question 26

What are the positive evaluation of Duck’s phase model?

Answer 26

Useful applications

Question 27

Explain the negative evaluation of Duck’s phase model: An incomplete model

Answer 27

Rollie and Duck (2006) stated that the model is oversimplified

• they then added to the resurrected phase
- ex partners turn their attention to future relationships using the experience gained from their recently ended one
• they also stated that the progression from 1 stage to the next isn’y inevitable and can be reversed
(The model suggest that it is linear)

Question 28

Explain the negative evaluation of Duck’s phase model: Methodological issues

Answer 28

• Most of the research is retrospective – after a relationship has ended
• What is recalled may not be accurate or reliable
• Early stages of breakdown tends to be distorted or ignored altogether
• It is almost impossible to measure when problems first appear.

Question 29

Explain the negative evaluation of Duck’s phase model: Ethical Issues

Answer 29

Researchers could lead to a break up in the relationship

Question 30

Explain the negative evaluation of Duck’s phase model: Explanation Power

Answer 30

It doesn’t explain why relationships break down
Unlike: Flemlee’s (1995) ‘fatal attraction hypothesis’ argues that the cause of relationship breakdown can be found in the attractive qualities that brought romantic partners together.

Question 31

Explain the negative evaluation of Duck’s phase model: Cultural Bias

Answer 31

• Relationships in individualist cultures are generally voluntary and frequently come to an end.
• Collectivist cultures are more likely to be obligatory, involve a wider family and do not end easily

Question 32

Explain the positive evaluation of Duck’s phase model: useful applications

Answer 32

• The model helps us identify and understand the stages of relationship breakdown and offers various ways to reverse the breakdown
• Identifies different repair strategies are more effective at particular points in the breakdown
• Duck (1994) recommends that people in the intra-psychic phase could be encouraged to focus their brooding on positive aspects of their partner.
• Dyadic phase- communication, any attempt to improve this and wider social skills could be beneficial in fostering greater stability.

Question 33

What are the stats with divorces

Answer 33

In 2017 there were 8.4 in 1000 divorces
In 2018 there were 7.5 in 1000 divorces
This is the lowest since 1971