Duck's Phase Model

• Duck's Phase Model of Relationship breakdown


  An explanation of the stages people go through when their relationship is not working. The ending of a relationship is not a one off event but is a process that takes time
• What are the 4 stages of Duck's Phase Model called?

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

  • Focus is on the cognitive processes within the individual and they may not say anything about their dissatisfaction but feel resentful
  • May have thoughts about whether they would be better without the relationship
  • Unhappiness may also be expressed indirectly through social withdrawal
  • Usually characterised by thoughts like “I can’t stand this anymore” indicating a need for change
• Dyadic Phase

  • The unhappy partner discuss their dissatisfaction
  • Discussions take place where partners may discuss their lack of inequity and imbalanced roles
  • Feelings of anger and guilt may be aired between the two and two possible outcomes occur
  • Can lead to reconciliation with a desire to repair the relationship
  • If this fails the threshold for the next phase is reached
  • This threshold may be characterised by thoughts such as “I would be better off without this relationship”
• Social Phase

  • Sees the breakup made public within their social circles
  • Each partner will seek support, forge alliances and negotiations will take place over assets
  • Mutual friends may be expected to pick a side and gossip may be traded with some being judgmental placing blame on one partner
  • Some may provide previously withheld secrets to hasten the end of the relationship or help repair the relationship between them
  • The threshold here would be thoughts such as “this is now inevitable” as others have become aware now
• Grave dressing phase

  • Covers why the breakdown occurred with each person having their own account that presents themselves favourably often at the expense of the other
  • Rebuilding of self esteem for future relationships occurs here to show trust and loyalty
  • People may try to retain social credit by blaming circumstances, the other partner or anything except themselves
  • May create a story that sits comfortably with themselves such as traits they found initially endearing about the partner are now bad
  • The threshold here would be the individual concluding “its time to start a new life”
• AO3 Duck's Phase Model: Real World Application

  • Relationship breakdown can now be reversed due to this model
  • Useful because it recognises different repair strategies are more effective at some points of the breakdown
  • Duck recommends in the intra-psychic phase should think of positives of their partner
  • In the dyadic phase communication can be heightened to make their relationship more stable
  • Be used in relationship counselling
• AO3 Duck's Phase Model: Incomplete Model

  • The original model explained is an incomplete explanation of breakdown
  • Another researcher added a 5th phase where someone learns from their past relationships
  • The progression from one phase to the other is not inevitable as it is possible to return to an earlier point
  • The model does not account for the complexity of the ending of a relationship
• AO3 Duck Phase: Gender differences

  • Gender differences exist and this theory suffers from gender bias as it attempts to play down gender differences assuming the process is experienced similarly by men and women
  • Women cited a lack of emotional support as the reason for breakdown while men cited an absence of fun
  • Women also wanted to remain friends while men preferred clean breaks
  • This suggests gender differences exist that the model is unable to explain
• AO3 Duck's Phase Model: Lack of generalisability

  • The model is based on research into relationship breakdown in individualist cultures especially in the US
  • Relationships in individualist cultures are generally voluntary and frequently come to an end for example divorce
  • Relationships in collectivist cultures are more likely to be necessary, less easy to end and involve the wider family
  • The whole concept of romantic relationship differs in different cultures so it lacks generalisability