Theories Of Romantic Relationships: Duck's Phase Model

Question 1

What did Duck propose

Answer 1

A phase model of relationship breakdowns

Question 2

What did Duck argue

Answer 2

The ending of a relationship is not a one-off event but a process that takes time and goes through four distinct phases

Question 3

What are the four phases Duck identified

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What does each phase have

Answer 4

A threshold

Question 5

What is each stage characterised by

Answer 5

A partner reaching a threshold where their perception of the relationship changes

Question 6

What happens when s partner reaches the threshold

Answer 6

1. The partner may reassess and decide the relationship isn’t too bad, halting the process of breakdown
2. They cross the threshold and move onto the next stage of the model

Question 7

What is the intra-psychic phases threshold

Answer 7

“I can’t stand this anymore” - indicating a determination that something has to change

Question 8

What is the dyadic phases threshold

Answer 8

“I would be justified in withdrawing”

Question 9

What is the social phases threshold

Answer 9

“I mean it” - the dissatisfied partner concludes

Question 10

What is the grave-dressing phases threshold

Answer 10

“It’s now inevitable”

Question 11

What is the intra-psychic phase

Answer 11

A partner become dissatisfied with the relationship in its current form - broad reasons for this and usually focus on their short comings

Question 12

What occurs in dissatisfied partner in intra-psychic phase

Answer 12

dissatisfied partner tends to keep their shortcomings to themselves but may share thoughts with a trusted friend, weighs up pros and cons

Question 14

What is different about the dyadic phase

Answer 14

The phase may vary in length and intensity of hostility and anxiety

Question 15

What is the social phase

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What is the point of no return in the social phase

Answer 16

Once the news is public

Question 17

What is the grave-dressing phase

Answer 17

Once the end becomes inevitable then a suitable story of the relationship and its end is prepared for wider consumption

Question 18

What is grace-dressing likely to include

Answer 18

An attempt to ensure that the storyteller will be judged most favourably

Question 19

What is necessary for a partner to move on

Answer 19

The creation of a personal story in addition to the public one

Question 20

Name a strength of Duck’s phase model

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Name a limitation of Duck’s phase model

Answer 21

Model is incomplete - Rollie and Duck

Question 22

What did Rollie and Duck do?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What did Rollie and Duck’s research suggest

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Why do Rollie and Duck’s findings contradict the original findings

Answer 24

Suggests that the original phase model is therefore only a partial explanation of the process of a relationship breakdown

Question 25

What is the dyadic phase

Answer 25

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