Relationship breakdown

• who came up with the model of relationship breakdown?

  Duck
• what key aspect marks the beginning of the breakdown of a relationship?

  • begins when one of the partners becomes distressed with the way the relationship is conducted
  • inequitable relationships are much more likely to create dissatisfaction than equitable ones
  • the realisation that the person is no longer able to stand the dissatisfaction is the first step in the relationship's breakdown
• what are the 5 key stages of Duck's model?

  1. Breakdown (dissatisfaction with the relationship)
  2. Intrapsychic phase
  3. dyadic phase
  4. social phase
  5. grave-dressing phase
• state what is involved in the intrapsychic phase

  • brooding focus on the relationship
  • consideration of whether/not they would be better off out of the relationship
  • feelings of resentment
  • may not express these things to a partner but keep a diary or through social withdrawal
  • person might end relationship without ever discussing satisfaction
  • promises like I'll call you or let's stay friends often represent a deeper dissatisfaction with the other person as a romantic partner
• state what is involved in the dyadic phase

  • individuals confront their partners and discuss feelings, discontentment and the future of the relationship
  • guilt/anger likely to surface as part of these discussions
  • partners become aware of costs should the relationship be terminated (eg- social and economic costs)
  • relationship can either be saved if partners are willing to resolve issues together through eg therapy, or they begin to involve others in the relationship problems
• state what is involved in the social phase

  • dissatisfaction stops being private and spills over to family and friends
  • distress experienced by one/both partners is made public
  • makes it harder to find reconciliation and harder to deny there's a problem with the relationship
  • others may take sides, offer support and advice and help in mending disputes. They may help each partner be exposed to revelations about the other, speeding up the process
• state what is involved in the grave-dressing phase

  • post relationship, each partner presents themselves as trustworthy- key to attract a new partner
  • strive for representation of their relationship that doesn't present their contributions to it as unfavourable
  • La Gaipa- everyone who leaves a relationship has to leave with their social credit intact, so not debarred from future relationships
  • strategic reinterpretation of how they view their partners- eg initially being attracted to a rebellious nature but seeing it now as irresponsibility
  • stories told about betrayal of one partner to another
• evaluation of relationships breakdown?

  • ☹ Duck admitted- didn't include the possibility of moving on healthily- Tashiro and Frazier- 92 undergrads experienced emotional distress AND personal growth post relationship, causing Duck to produce a new model which included this feature
  • ☹ social phase varies- younger people receive less encouragement to salvage relationship, Dickson- older people in longer term rels expect finding replacement less
  • 😊 research for grave dressing- Tashiro and Frazier- people feel better when they focus on the situation, not own flaws being responsible for breakup
  • ☹ ethical issues- breach of privacy in studying relationship breakdown can cause stress (ethical implications). Socially sensitive- describes stress caused as a result of entering a relationships and can cause people to look down on those who engage with romantic relationships, or discourage people from getting into them