ducks model of relationship breakdown
Cards (8)
- ducks model:
- ending isnt one off event, process takes time + goes through distinct stages
- each phase marked by partner reaching a threshold, point where perception of relationship changes
- intrapsychic phase:
- focus is cognitive processes - admits theyre dissatisfied + thinks of reasons for dissatisfaction (alone or with friends)
- weighs up pros/cons + evaluates against alternatives
- dyadic phase:
- focus on interpersonal processes + cant avoid talking about relationship (series of confrontations over time)
- dissatisfaction shared (hostility, anger, inequity)
- outcomes = determination to continue breakup or desire to repair
- social phase:
- focus on wider processes involving couples social network - breakup made public
- partners seek support from friends + mutuals expected to pick side
- some provide reassurance or are judgemental by placing blame
- gravedressing phase:
- focus on aftermath - spin a favourable story for public consumption
- save face + positive reputation at expense of other partner - important to retain social credit
- create personal story you can live with, different from public one
- EVALUATION: real life applications
- different repair strategies more effective at certain points
- duck - intrapsychic - focus on broading aspects, unlikely to be used in later phases
- model helps couples contemplating breakup to stay
- EVALUATION: methodological issues
- peoples memories of events not accurate - unreliable responses + early stages distorted
- almost impossible to study early stages - researcher involvement may worsen things or hasten breakup
- model is based on research that ignores first part of the model
- EVALUATION: incomplete model
- 5th resurrection stage - turn attention to future + use past experiences - tashiro + frazier, undergraduates experienced distress + growth
- progression of stages isnt inevitable - return to earlier stages
- model doesnt account for dynamic nature of breakups