Ducks phase model of relationship breakdown

• What are the key processes involved in Duck's model of relationship breakdown?

  • Intrapsychic Phase: Internal reflection and evaluation
  • Dyadic Phase: Discussion of issues between partners
  • Social Phase: Public acknowledgment and negotiation
  • Grave-dressing Phase: Rationalization and narrative construction
  • Resurrection Phase: Personal growth and moving forward
• describe the intra-psychic phase 


  a partner thinks about their dissatisfaction with the relationship, but this is not disclosed to the other partner
• describe the dyadic phase

  • both partners are aware of the the problem
  • there is confrontation and discussion
  • 2 outcomes - determination to break up or desire to resolve the issues
• describe the social phase

  • partners disclose their problems to others
  • friends and family become aware of the breakdown of the relationship
  • they may be helpful and suggest trying to work things out, or unhelpful by criticising and taking sides
• describe the grave dressing phase

  • ex-partners begin the organisation of their post breakup life
  • each partner comes to terms with the breakdown and rationalises it by constructing a narrative of events
• describe the resurrection phase

  • opportunity to move beyond the distress associated with the ending of a relationship
  • engage in the process of personal growth
• strength of ducks phase model

  • research support
  • surveyed people who just left a relationship, reported emotional distress and personal growth
  • supports the resurrection phase giving the model a degree of validity
• limitation of ducks phase model

  • research support has low population validity
  • study only surveys undergraduate students who have less experience
  • not representative of how wider population would experience a relationship breakdown
  • weak supporting evidence
• limitation of ducks phase model

  • culturally biased
  • based on western cultures where relationships are voluntary and temporary; relationships in collectivist cultures are based on family decision and are permanent
  • model does not explain relationship breakdown in all cultures
• limitation of ducks phase model

  • model lacks explanatory power
  • describes the sequence of events that lead to relationship breakdown without explaining why dissatisfaction occurs
  • model doesn’t enhance our understanding
  • social exchange theory may be more helpful