Duck’s Phase of Relationship Breakdown

• What is the first stage of Duck's Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown?

  Intra-psychic
• What occurs during the intra-psychic stage?

  Person admits dissatisfaction and reflects internally
• What is the focus of thoughts during the intra-psychic stage?

  Internal thought processes before confronting partner
• What is the second stage of Duck's Phase Model?

  Dyadic
• What happens during the dyadic stage?

  Interpersonal confrontation occurs with complaints
• What does the dissatisfied partner do in the dyadic stage?

  Rethinks alternatives to their current relationship
• What is the third stage of Duck's Phase Model?

  Social
• How do friends and relatives affect the social stage?

  They take sides and intervene in the relationship
• What is the impact of the social stage on the relationship?

  It makes reconciliation much more problematic
• What usually happens at the end of the social stage?

  This stage usually leads to the dissolution of the relationship
• What is the fourth stage of Duck's Phase Model?

  Grave dressing
• What do individuals do during the grave dressing stage?

  Construct their own version of the relationship breakdown
• How do individuals portray themselves in the grave dressing stage?

  Minimize their faults and maximize their partner's
• What is the purpose of the grave dressing stage?

  To signify closure and readiness for a new relationship
• What does an individual try to show during the grave dressing stage?

  They try to show themselves as trustworthy and loyal
• Phase Model AO3 - Practical applications

  • Ducks model has useful applications in relation to couples counselling
  • Couples may be advised to use different strategies after identifying which phase they believe they are in
  • Ex. if a person was in the intra psychic phase it may be more useful to shift their attention to the positive aspects of their partners personality
  • This shows ducks phase model of relationship breakdown can be used successfully to help couples contemplating break up improve their relationship and stay together
• Phase Model AO3 - Cultural bias

  • Based on experiences of relationship in Western cultures, especially USA
  • Mohaddam states that relationships in individualist cultures are generally voluntary and frequently come to an end however in collectivist cultures relationships tend to be less obligatory and less easy to end (arranged by family members and characterised by greater family involvement)
  • The whole concept of romantic relationships differ between cultures
  • Therefore, the model is culturally biased as it assumes that break-up processes are universal, which is not the case
• Phase Model AO3 - Incomplete model

  • Suggests that the movement from one stage to the next is inevitable in a linear fashion
  • Rollie and Duck - added a 5th phase where people may be on the pain and distress associated with ending relationships and experience personal growth
  • They also added a new element whereby communication patterns within each phase could result in a reversion to an earlier, more positive state of the relationship rather than progressing on to the next phase of the break up