Theory: Duck’s phase model

• Duck’s phase model-

  Phases of a relationship breakdown-

  • Intrapsychic
  • Dyadic
  • Social
  • Grave-dressing
• Duck’s phase model-

  Intrapsychic phase -

  • Relationship is staring to break down
  • Starting to feel resentment + that they’re under benefitting
  • Kept private to not be influenced by others
• Duck’s phase model-

  Dyadic phase-

  • Turning point — saved or lost
  • Raising issues that could cause guilt/anger through confrontation
  • Higher levels of self-disclosure through thoughts and feelings
• Duck’s phase model-

  Social phase-

  • Breakdown becomes public
  • Crucial psychological moment — ending or repairing
  • Arrangements made to negotiate
  • Mutual friends take sides + give inputs = harder to recover
• Duck‘s phase model-

  Grave-dressing phase-

  • Aftermath of the outcome
  • Creates a story to keep a good reputation
  • Blames others or circumstances for behaviours
  • Rewriting memories to fit into more recent thoughts and feelings
  • Preparation for new relationships
• Duck’s phase model-

  S- ecological validity = application to counselling and therapy - help recover after intrapsychic or dyadic phase

  S- recognises that the breakdown is a process not a singular event

  W- individual differences = not always followed in order + may skip stages or go between

  W- culture relativism = based on individualistic cultures, as collectivist cultures don’t allow divorces or family involvement

  W- partial model = only description no explanation of origins or causes — resurrection phase found where experience is applied to future relationships
• Duck’s phase model-

  CPS- Tashiro + Frasier = importance of the grave-dressing phase to see the positives from a break up

  CPW- methodical issues = based on self-report - unreliable due to social desirability + retrospective - possible contamination or forgetting