Duck's phase model

• contributions to breakdown of relationships:

  • no longer in profit
  • alternatives
  • lack of self-disclosure
  • poor communication
• duck's phases of relationship breakdown:

  1. intrapsychic phase: cognitive processes occur within the individual, dissatisified partner worries about the reasons for their dissatisfaction. may share their stories with a trusted friend.
  2. dyadic phase: cannot avoid talking about relationship, problems are discussed by either breaking up or repair it. self-disclosure becomes deeper.
  3. social phase: focus on wider processes - breakup is made public and may seek support through gossip and influence of friends
  4. grave-dressing phase: focus on aftermath, story is spinned and memories are tidied up
• evaluation:

  strengths:

  • applicable to same-sex relationships
  • lead to treatment for couples in talking therapies to work on communication and situations within specific phases

  weakness:

  • disregards the idea that humans have free will - deterministic
  • subjective to individual differences,
  • culturally relative, polygamy