Duck's phase model

• Duck's phase model

  • phase model of relationship breakdown.
  • ending the relationship isn't a one-off event, is a process
  • explanation of stages people go through when relationship isn't working
• intra-psychic phase

  • 'i can't do this anymore' indicates determination something has to change
  • focuses on cognitive processes occuring within the individual.
  • dissatisfied partner worries about reason for dissatisfaction centres on partners shortcoming.
  • think of it privately and may share with a friend.
  • way up pros + cons and evaluate against alternatives
  • begin to make plans for a future
• dyadic phase

  • 'i would be justified in withdrawing'
  • focus is on interpersonal processes between the two partners.
  • confrontations characterised by anxiety, hostility, complaints of lack of equity, rethinking commitment , resentment over imbalance.
  • either determined to continue the break up or renewed desire to save the relationship.
  • more self-disclosures
• social phase

  • dissatisfied partner concludes 'i mean it'
  • focus is on wider processes involving couple's social networks.
  • breakup made public.
  • seek support
  • mutual friends expected to pick sides.
  • some friends provide reinforcement, others will blame one partner, some may try and repair the relationship.
  • point of no return
• grave dressing phase

  • 'it's now inevitable'
  • focuses on aftermath.
  • time to bury the relationship by 'spinning' a favourable story for public consumption.
  • allows partners to maintain a positive reputation, normally at the expense of the other.
  • includes creating a personal story you can live with. may differ from the public one.
  • reaches the threshold 'time to get a new life'
• strength - real-world application

  suggests ways in which relationship breakdown can be reversed

  recognises that different repair strategies are more effective at some points of the breakdown than others.

  could be useful in relationships counselling.
• limitation - cultures

  based on research into relationships in individualist cultures

  -> relationships in individualist cultures are generally voluntary and frequently come to an end.

  but, relationships in collectivist cultures are less easy to end

  the whole concept of romantic relationships differs between cultures
• limitation - incomplete model

  original model is an incomplete explanation of breakdown.

  Duck + Rollie

  added a 5th phase called the resurrection phase.

  ex-partners apply to future relationships the experiences gained from their recently ended one.

  researchers also argue progression from one phase to the next is not inevitable as you can return to an earlier point.
• limitation - understanding earlier phases

  the model underexplains the early phases of breakdown.

  due to lots of the research being retrospective/

  reports may not always be accurate or reliable, especially in the earlier stages as they occur the longest ago.

  model may not explain the early part of the breakdown process as well as the later phases.