Theories Of Romantic Relationships: Duck's Phase Model Flashcards
What did Duck propose
A phase model of relationship breakdowns
What did Duck argue
The ending of a relationship is not a one-off event but a process that takes time and goes through four distinct phases
What are the four phases Duck identified
- Intra-psychic phase
- Dyadic phase
- Social phase
- Grave-dressing phase
What does each phase have
A threshold
What is each stage characterised by
A partner reaching a threshold where their perception of the relationship changes
What happens when s partner reaches the threshold
- The partner may reassess and decide the relationship isn’t too bad, halting the process of breakdown
- They cross the threshold and move onto the next stage of the model
What is the intra-psychic phases threshold
“I can’t stand this anymore” - indicating a determination that something has to change
What is the dyadic phases threshold
“I would be justified in withdrawing”
What is the social phases threshold
“I mean it” - the dissatisfied partner concludes
What is the grave-dressing phases threshold
“It’s now inevitable”
What is the intra-psychic phase
A partner become dissatisfied with the relationship in its current form - broad reasons for this and usually focus on their short comings
What occurs in dissatisfied partner in intra-psychic phase
dissatisfied partner tends to keep their shortcomings to themselves but may share thoughts with a trusted friend, weighs up pros and cons
What is different about the dyadic phase
The phase may vary in length and intensity of hostility and anxiety
What is the social phase
Once a partner wants to end the relationship they will seek support - particularly from joint friends who may be encouraged to choose a side but others may try to prevent the break-up by acting as a go-between
What is the point of no return in the social phase
Once the news is public
What is the grave-dressing phase
Once the end becomes inevitable then a suitable story of the relationship and its end is prepared for wider consumption
What is grace-dressing likely to include
An attempt to ensure that the storyteller will be judged most favourably
What is necessary for a partner to move on
The creation of a personal story in addition to the public one
Name a strength of Duck’s phase model
Application, helping people reverse the process - model suggests some repair strategies might be more effective at one stage - (e.g. Intra-psychic stage partners could brood more positively) - would be less helpful to encourage brooding if already reached social stage - model can lead to supportive suggestions, may help people through difficult time
Name a limitation of Duck’s phase model
Model is incomplete - Rollie and Duck
What did Rollie and Duck do?
Added a fifth resurrection phase in which ex-partners began to use what they have learned from the last relationships to prepare for a future on
What did Rollie and Duck’s research suggest
The refined version also clarifies the point that movement through the stages is neither linear nor inevitable and partners may return to an earlier phase
Why do Rollie and Duck’s findings contradict the original findings
Suggests that the original phase model is therefore only a partial explanation of the process of a relationship breakdown
What is the dyadic phase
Once a partner concludes that they are justified in ending the relationship they have to discuss this with their partner - dissatisfactions about equality, commitment etc are aired
