Duck - Relationship Breakdown

• Reasons for relationship breakdown Duck (1992)

  • Marriages in which partners were very young 
  • Early parenthood
  • Being in a lower socioeconomic group 
  • Poor education 
  • Partners are of different race / religion 
  • A greater number of sexual partners before marriage. 
  • Jealousy 
  • Lack of sexual satisfaction
  • Lack of social skills – poor at conversation, may seem uninterested.
  • Extra marital affairs – may be a direct reaction to the other reasons discussed. 
  • Inability to physically see one another or spend time together
• AO1 Duck & Rollie (2006) – A model of Breakdown

  Rather than focusing on the reasons for relationship breakdown, Duck & Rollie instead focused on the process of relationship breakdown – the stages partners go through when relationships are breaking down.

  Each stage is marked by one partner (or both) reaching a “threshold” - The road to relationship breakdown happens when one partner becomes dissatisfied.
• Step 1

  In front of you are the thought processes in Rollie and Duck’s model of breakdown. 

  Order them from beginning to end, remember it is a model of breaking up.
• Step 2

  Now, you need to add the descriptions of the behaviours shown during break up.

  You will notice there are 5 behaviours and 6 thoughts so think carefully about where you would place them.
• Stage 1 - Intrapsychic Phase

  One of the partners/friends becomes more and more dissatisfied with the relationship. They centre on and brood on their partner’s shortcomings and the reason for their unhappiness. They do not tell their partner yet.

  They weigh up the pros and cons of the relationship and begin to consider alternatives (including of being alone). 

  They begin to make plans for the future.

  If the dissatisfaction is great enough there is progression to the next phase…
• Stage 2 - Dyadic Phase

  Here the other person becomes involved. 

  The focus here is on the interpersonal processes between the two partners. 

  This phase is characterised by a series of confrontations over a period of time as the partners cannot avoid talking about their dissatisfaction any longer.
• Stage 3 - Social Phase

  This is where the break-up is ‘aired’ and made public, e.g. to family and friends. The focus shifts to the couple’s social network.

  Partners will seek to form pacts at this point, mutual friends will find they are expected to pick sides

  • Factions are formed, gossip traded, people get involved one way or another.

  If things get nasty, and the relationship is not saved here, then this is usually the point of no return…

  Duck and Rollie emphasise the processes involved in breakdown but not just from the couple. 
• What is the focus of Stage 4 in the grave-dressing phase?

  Organization of post-relationship lives
• What happens to the relationship during the grave-dressing phase?

  The relationship is considered dead
• How do ex-partners typically present their accounts of the relationship breakdown?

  They publicize overly favorable accounts
• What is a common behavior of partners during the grave-dressing phase?

  They attempt to "save face"
• Why do partners show the other person in a bad light during the grave-dressing phase?

  To maintain their reputation
• What role does gossip play in the grave-dressing phase?

  It is considered important
• Who coined the term "social credit" in the context of breakups?

  La Gaipa
• What do partners attempt to retain during a breakup according to the concept of social credit?

  Social credit
• How do partners typically assign blame during a breakup?

  They blame circumstances and others
• What is the typical attitude of partners towards themselves during the grave-dressing phase?

  They avoid blaming themselves
• Stage 4 -Grave-dressing phase

  Grave-dressing also involves creating a personal story that you can live with… 

  Former couples tidy up their memories of the relationship, they rewrite history where need be.

  This phase changes the perspective on the whole relationship. Traits you found endearing about your former partner are now interpreted in a much more negative light. 

  Wild impulsiveness is now recklessness, passionate and hands on is now clingy etc…

  Other couples will let the past be the past and will conclude they were never compatible and move on…
• Stage 5 - Resurrection Phase (added in 2006)

  Each partner prepares themselves for new relationships by defining themselves and building on past mistakes and experiences.
• (-)The original model fails to reflect the possibility of personal growth

  The final phase of model added in 2006 (“resurrection process”), in which people engage in personal growth.

  Research support for this:

  Tashiro & Frazier (2003) found that 92 students they surveyed felt they had benefited from breaking up with their partners with personal growth and clearer ideas about future partners.

  Women report more post-relationship growth than men do. The reason is not yet clear. Can you think of any possible explanations?
• (-)The impact of the social phase varies by type of relationship

  Relationships of teenagers and young adults are seen as more unstable than long-term adult relationships.

  As a result, other may offer sympathy but no support with reconciliation as “there are plenty more fish in the sea”.

  Older adults have lower expectations of finding a new relationship and so the consequences of breakdown are more significant (Dickson, 1995)

  The social phase may then be characterised by more obvious attempts to rescue current relationships.
• (+) Face validity

  The theory has face validity as it is an account of relationship breakdown that we can relate to our own and/or others’ experiences.

  The view of dissolution as a process, rather than an event, is widely accepted.  

  However, the theory applies mainly to romantic relationships, because these are exclusive in a way that friendships generally are not.