Relationships - Breakdown Flashcards
Theories of breakdown of relationships?
Reasons for relationship breakdown and model of breakdown
Reasons for relationship breakdown researcher?
Duck
Duck?
Reasons for relationship breakdown
Model of breakdown researcher?
Rollie and Duck
Rollie and Duck?
Model of relationship breakdown
Reasons for breakdown?
Lack of skills, lack of stimulation, maintenance difficulties
Research on lack of stimulation?
Baxter
Baxter?
Lack of stimulation (e.g. boredom, belief the relationship isn’t going anywhere) often quoted as a reason for breakdown
Research on maintenance difficulties?
Shaver et al
Shaver et al?
Going away to uni places a great strain on existing relationships and often causes breakdown - while enduring ones can be strong enough, this often isn’t the case
Strengths of reasons for breakdown?
RL applications
Weaknesses of reasons for breakdown?
Reductionist
Contradictory research
Gender differences
Reductionism in reasons for breakdown?
Boekhout et al
Boekhout et al?
Men use more sexual reasons for affairs while more women use emotional reasons
Contradictory research for reasons for breakdown?
Holt and Stone
Holt and Stone?
Relationship satisfaction decreased only slightly in long distance relationships as long as they met regularly
Gender differences in reasons for breakdown?
Brehm and Kassin
Brehm and Kassin?
Women more likely to stress unhappiness and incompatibility, while men stress ‘sexual withholding’ for breakdown
Real world applications of reasons for breakdown?
Cine et al
Cine et al?
50 couples who went to couple coping enhancement training (CCET), which aimed to improve skills, reported a much higher marital quality
Stages of model of breakdown?
Breakdown -> intrapsychic process -> dyadic process -> social process -> grave-dressing process -> resurrection process
Breakdown stage of model?
Realisation (i.e. of inequity) leads to dissatisfaction and distress
Intrapsychic process?
Brooding focus on relationships, e.g. costs, resentment, reevaluation
Dyadic process?
Confront partner and begin to discuss/reassess
Social process?
Going public to friends and family, who take sides, offer advice and support, try to mend disputes etc.
Grave-dressing process?
Try to justify actions and present themselves as trustworthy/loyal
Resurrection process?
Preparation for new relationships by redefining themselves and building on past experiences
Threshold of breakdown stage?
“I can’t stand this anymore”
Threshold of intrapsychic process?
“I’d be justified in withdrawing”
Strengths of model of breakdown?
Supportive research
Applications
Weaknesses of model of breakdown?
Ethical issues
Supportive research for model of breakdown?
Tashiro and Frazier
Tashiro and Frazier?
Undergraduates who’d recently broken up with their partner reported emotional distress, personal growth, new insight, ideas about the future etc. (characteristics of GD and R)
Ethical issues with model of breakdown?
Issues of vulnerability, distress, privacy and confidentiality (e.g. abusive relationships), so may exclude sensitive cases
Applications of model of breakdown?
By paying attention to the model’s stages a psychologist can suggest appropriate interventions
