relationships- theories of romantic relationships: Duck's phase model

Question 1

what are the four phases in ducks model?

Answer 1

-intra-psychic
-dyadic
-social
-grave dressing

Question 2

what is ducks model a theory of?

Answer 2

the breakdown of a relationship
-argued it wasn’t a one-off event its a process that takes time and goes through 4 stages

Question 3

what does duck argue each phase has?

Answer 3

a threshold

Question 4

what is the significance of thresholds to the phases?

Answer 4

-perception of relationship changes
-dissatisfied partner may reassess and decide relationship isn’t s bad, halting breakdown or cross threshold into next step

Question 5

what is the threshold for the intra-psychic phase?

Answer 5

‘I can’t stand this anymore’
-indicates determination for something to change

Question 6

intra-psychic phase

Answer 6

-first phase
-p becomes dissatisfied w relationship in current form. worry about the reasons and focus on p’s shortcomings
-dissatisfied p tends to keep this to themselves but may share thought w trusted friends weighting up pros/cons of continuing

Question 7

what is the threshold for the dyadic phase?

Answer 7

‘I would be justified in withdrawing’

Question 8

dyadic phase

Answer 8

-once p concludes justified in ending relationship they have to discuss with their p. dissatisfactions about equity, commitment, etc. are aired
-s-d may be more frequent as p feel they can reveal true feelings

Question 9

what is the threshold for the social phase?

Answer 9

dissatisfied partner concludes ‘I mean it’

Question 10

social phase

Answer 10

-once p want to end relationship will seek support particularly from joint friends
-friends may choose side but some may try prevent breakup acting as go-between
-once news public though generally point of no return

Question 11

what is the threshold for the grave dressing phase?

Answer 11

‘it’s now inevitable’

Question 12

grave dressing phase

Answer 12

-once end inevitable suitable story of relationship and end prepared for wider consumption
-likely to include attempt to ensure storyteller judged most favourably
-creation of personal story in addition to public one necessary for p to move on

Question 13

what’s the final threshold of ducks phases?

Answer 13

‘time to get a new life’

Question 14

ao3 of Ducks phase model: real world application

Answer 14

-application to real world relationship breakdown
-model suggests some repair strategies more effective at one stage than others
-i.e. intra-psychic stage p could worry more positively ab each other. improving communication skills is beneficial in the dyadic phase
-model can provide supportive insights to help people through difficult times in their lives

Question 15

ao3 of Ducks phase model: incomplete

Answer 15

-rollie and duck (2006) added resurrection phase in which ex-p’s apply what they’ve learned from relationships in past
-p’s may return to earlier phases at any point and processes are more important than linear movement through phases
-means original model doesn’t take into account the complexity of breakdown and its dynamic nature

Question 16

ao3 of Ducks phase model: phases less well explained

Answer 16

research p’s recall breakdown retrospectively, so report may not be accurate (especially earlier phases)
-intra-psychic happens ‘longer-ago’ and p may spend a long time in it, so recall of what happened could actually be distorted
-so model doesn’t explain early part of the breakdown processes