Phase model of relationship breakdown

• Proposed by Duck (1982)
• Duck (1982) 


  proposed that relationship breakdown is a process made up of 4 stages
• 4 stages of relationship breakdown

  Intrapsychic

  Dyadic

  Social

  Grave-dressing
• intrapsychic phase 


  person admits to themselves that they’re dissatisfied with the relationship - may withdraw affection from their partner
• dyadic phase 


  person confronts their partner and may discuss extrinsic investments
• social phase 


  involves family and friends, who may take sides, making reconciliation more problematic - leads to the dissolution of the relationship
• grave-dressing phase 


  both sides construct their version of why the relationship broke down - indicates closure of previous relationship and readiness to start a new one
• LeFebvre et al (2012) 


  Aimed to investigate Duck’s phase model of relationship breakdown

  208 college students completed a questionnaire about how they used facebook during a relationship breakdown
• LeFebvre et al - results 


  22% didn’t discuss their relationship on facebook

  22% publicised their relationship status on facebook

  10% used facebook to check what their ex-partner was doing
• LeFebvre et al - conclusion


  behaviours on Facebook can be directly mapped to Duck’s model of relationship breakdown
• Duck & Rollie (2006)

  Added the resurrection phase - people move beyond the distress associated with the breakup and experience personal growth
• Tashiro & Frazier (2003)

  aimed to examine the resurrection phase - ppts reported positive growth in personal traits, environment, and relationship maintenance strategies
• positive evaluation of the phase model

  application to real world - has been applied to couples counselling, and couples may be given different advice based on what phase of the breakdown they are in
• negative evaluation - relies on memory

  the questionnaires used rely on retrospective data, and puts recall of the breakdown may not be accurate
• negative evaluation - ethics

  ethical issues can include confidentiality, privacy and protection from psychological harm
• negative evaluation - individual differences

  friends and relatives put more effort into reconciling a relationship between older couples - teenagers’ relationships are not taken as seriously
• negative evaluation - cultural bias

  based on relationships from individualist cultures, where ending a relationship is a voluntary choice - this may not be the case in collectivist cultures where family are normally more involved