Relationships: Duck's phase model of relationship breakdown

Question 1

According to Duck what factors threaten a relationship?

Answer 1

-Dispositional (personal) and situational (environmental) and could be classified as predisposing and precipitating.

Question 2

What does predisposing mean?

Answer 2

A liability or tendency to suffer from a particular condition, hold a particular attitude, or act in a particular way.
-Therefore beliefs/attitudes the person holds may make a break-up more likely.

Question 3

What does precipitating mean?

Answer 3

Cause (an event/situation, typically bad) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely.
-More situational circumstances which contribute to the break-up.

Question 4

What are the 4 phases of Ducks model of breakdown?

Answer 4

1. Intra-psychic
2. Dyadic
3. Social
4. Grave-dressing

Question 5

What is the intra-psychic phase? (phase 1)

Answer 5

• One of the partners becomes more and more dissatisfied with the relationship. Don’t tell partner yet.
• I dissatisfied enough then move onto phase 2.
• ‘I would be justified in leaving’.

Question 6

What is the dyadic phase? (phase 2)

Answer 6

• The other person gets involved + given opportunity to resolve it.
• If dissatisfaction isn’t resolved, progresses to phase 3.
• ‘I mean it’

Question 7

What is the social phase? (phase 3)

Answer 7

• This is where breakup is made public, e.g. family and friends.
• Where social implications (children, pets, home) are negotiated.
• If relationship isn’t saved here (maybe by family attempt) it goes to final stage.

Question 8

What is the grave dressing phase? (phase 4)

Answer 8

• Where you dress up the death of your relationship.
• The ex-partners begin the organisation of their post-relationship lives.
• Try to keep your dignity and look like the better person so that you can move on easier. (Put the blame on other person)

Question 9

What are positives of Ducks model?

Answer 9

• The model makes sense, since we can all recognise the phases - face validity.
• Looked at more than the behaviours involved in relationship breakdown, also considers cognitive factors (emotions + feelings).
• Avoids focusing on the negatives and distressing outcomes of a break-up.

Question 10

What are negatives of Duck’s model?

Answer 10

• Describes process of breakdown, doesn’t explain why it occurs.
• Model focuses on experiences of white, middle class straight men. Culturally biased. Moghaddan (1993) shows some cultures are permanent relationships.
• Individual differences not taken into account. Akert (1988).