AO1

• What is the phase model of relationship breakdown?

  An explanation of the stages people go through when their relationship is not working. Once one partner is dissatisfied, there are 4 phases in the process, each with a different focus and ‘threshold’, a point at which their perception of the relationship changes (usually for the worse). The road to break-up begins once a partner realises that they are dissatisfied with the relationship and distressed about the way things are going
• What are the 4 phases?

  1. Intra-psychic phase
  2. Dyadic phase
  3. Social phase
  4. Grave dressing phase
• What is the key focus of the intra-psychic phase?

  Internal cognitive processes where one partner privately considers their dissatisfaction
• What is the threshold of the intra-psychic phase?

  ’I can’t stand this anymore’
• What happens in the dyadic phase?

  The dissatisfaction is discussed between partners, leading to confrontation and potential resolution or breakup
• What is the threshold of the dyadic phase?

  ‘I would be justified in withdrawing’
• What is the main focus of the social phase?

  The breakup becomes public and social networks get involved
• What is the threshold of the social phase?

  ‘I mean it’
• What happens in the grave dressing phase?

  The aftermath. Individuals create a public and personal narrative to justify the breakup and move on
• What role does gossip play in the social and grave dressing phases?


  It helps shape public perception of the breakup and often portrays one partner negatively
• What psychological process occurs in the grave dressing phase?

  Rewriting memories of the relationship to protect self-esteem and justify the breakup
• In the grave dressing phase, it is important that each partner tries to retain some ‘social credit’ (La Gaipa) by blaming circumstances, your partner or other people or everything and everyone but themselves
• In the dyadic phase, self disclosure may become deeper and more frequent in this phase as partners express thoughts and feelings they had been withholding in the intra-pyshchic phase. However, this doesn’t increase satisfaction
• In the social phase, partners will seek support. Mutual friends may find that they are expected to choose a side
• In the social phase, some friends may provide reassurance and may encourage the breakdown. Some try to repair the relationship may urge for reconciliation (acting as a go-between)