Relationships - Breakdown

Question 1

What did Duck (1999) suggest?

Answer 1

There are three reasons for relationship breakdown
Lack of skills
Lack of stimulation
Maintenance difficulties

Question 2

Describe lack of skills

Answer 2

Some people lack the interpersonal skills to make them mutually satisfying
People who lack social skills are likely to be unrewarding in their interactions with other people
Other people may perceive then as not being interested in relating
Relationship tends to break down before it really gets going

Question 3

Describe lack of stimulation

Answer 3

One reward in relationships is stimulation
If this reward is lacking the relationship may break down
Boredom/believe the relationship isn’t going anywhere is often quoted when breaking off a relationship
People expect relationships to change and develop
Lack of change is seen as a sufficient justification to end a relationship

Question 4

Describe maintenance difficulties

Answer 4

Partners cannot see each other enough
Going away to university is often responsible for relationship breakdown
Enduring romantic relationships can survive decreased daily contact but for many this isn’t the case

Question 5

Describe Rollie and Duck (2006)’s model of relationship breakdown

Answer 5

Breakdown (dissatisfaction with relationship)
Intrapsychic (social withdrawal, rumination, resentment, brooding on partner’s faults, re-evaluation of relationship)
Dyadic (uncertainty, anxiety, hostility, complaints, discussion about equity, roles, commitments)
Social (going public, support seeking, alliance building, denigration of partner)
Grave-dressing (tidying up memories, stories prepared for different audiences, cover story)
Resurrection (recreating sense of own social value, defining what to get out of future relationships, preparation for future relationships)

Question 6

What did Duck (1981) suggest?

Answer 6

There are two categories of relationship breakdown causes 
Predisposing personal factors (e.g distasteful personal habits, emotional instability)
Precipitating factors (e.g exterior influences, incompatible working hours, emergent properties of relationships that cause decline, attributions of blame