Theories of romantic relationships: DUCKS PHASE MODEL

Question 1

Duck’s phase model

Answer 1

Steve Duck (2007)
* ending a relationships is a process that goes through 4 phases.
* each has a threshold point which, when reached, spells the beginning of the new phase:
1. intra-psychic phase
2. dyadic phase
3. social phase
4. grave dressing phase

Question 2

Intra-psychic phase

Answer 2

• theres a cognitive process occuring within the individual
• dissatisfied partner spends time thinking about reasons why they are unhappy.
• they weigh up pros and cons of the relationship
• cognitive process is private, although may be shared with trusted friends
• threshold is that individual thinks they can no longer tolerate the issues

Question 3

Dyadic phase

Answer 3

• couples start to voice their concerns and problems to each other becasue they cannot avoid talking about their relationship
• may take form of confrontations or discussions in which individuals may self-disclose deeper feelings and thoughts that they had been withholding in the previous phase
• 2 possible outcomes- determination to fix their problems or determination to continue breaking up the relationship
• threshold is that individual feels that there are justified reasons to walk away from relationship
• e.g. “i cant do this anymore”

Question 4

Social phase

Answer 4

• break up is made public
• friends and family may suggest repairing relaionship or encourage ending of relationship
• usually point of no return- they resist family pressure to get together if so
• threshold is that partner is serious about splitting
• “i mean it. there is no going back”

Question 5

Grave dressing phase

Answer 5

• relationship has ended and partners have now found ways to cope with aftermath
• relationship is buried and partners may speak of each in negative lights to save and maintain positive reputation for themselves so they are judged most favourably
• partners try to retain some social credit by balancing circumstances of their partners for faults in the relationship
• phase involves creating a personal story in which memeories from earlier stages of relationship are reinterpreted in a much more negative way
• what may have been a nice memory, may now be interpreted as consisting of many hints of failure
• dissatisfied partner reaches threshold that break up was inevitable and that they must now move on and start a new life

Question 6

Evaluation

Answer 6

- Not reported in real time
+ Real world application / Practical value
- Model is culturally bias
- Model is limited
-Model is incomplete

Question 7

- Not reported in real time

Answer 7

• much of research into phases are retrospective
• ppts report their experiences some time after relationship has ended
• problem because memory might be distorted particularly in intra-psychic phase as this phase occurs much longer ago

Question 8

+ Real world application

Answer 8

• useful model as it suggests ways in which relationship breakdown could be reversed
• model recognises that there may be some effective repair strategies at certain points in breakdown
• e.g. Duck recommends that in intra-specific stage people could be encouraged to focus on positive aspects of their relationship
• in dyadic phase, through communication partners could improve their relationship
• these insights can be used in relationship counseeling to help couples get through difficult times and to highlight relationships that can be saved at almost any stage

Question 9

- Cultural bias

Answer 9

• model is based on individualist culture, especially in US
• relationships in individualist cultures tend to be easier to end if partners are disatisfied whereas relationships in collectivist cultures are less easy to end and will involve taking into account thoughts of the wider family.
• concept of romantic relationships and relationship breakdown differs between cultures
• model would not be useful to apply to all cultures and so its unrepresentative

Question 10

- Model is limited

Answer 10

• model has been criticised for merely describing what happens during process of relationship breakdown
• not useful in explaining the factors that lead to/cause relatiosnhip breakdown
• its low internal validity

Question 11

- Model is incomplete

Answer 11

• Rollie and Duck (2006) added a 5th resurrection phase in which ex-partners begin to use what they have learnt from last relationship to prepare for a future one
• refined version also clarifies point that movement through stages is neither linear, not inevitable and partners may return to an earlier phase
• suggests that the original phase model is therefore only a partial explanation of process of relationship breakdown
• model is limited