Duck’s phase model

• Duck proposed a phase model of relationship

  • he argued that the ending of a relationship isn;t a one off event but a process that takes time and goes through 4 distinct stages
• What are the 4 stages?

  Intra-psychic phase

  Dyadic phase

  Social phase

  Grave dressing phase
• Each phase is characterised by one partner reaching a threshold

  • where their perception of the relationship changes

  The dissatisfied partner may reassess and decide the relationship isn’t so bad, slowing down the process of breakdown or they cross the threshold and move onto the next stage
• What is the threshold of the intra-psychic phase?

  ”I can’t stand this anymore”

  • indicating a determination that something has to change
• Intra-psychic phase


  Partner becomes dissatisfied with the relationship in its current form and start to worry about the reasons for this and will usually focus on their partner’s shortcoming

  • talk to closest friends and think about it privately

  Cognitive process within the individual partner

  • weigh up pros and cons of the relationship and evaluated these against alternatives
• What is the threshold in the dyadic stage?

  Eventually come to the conclusion, “I would be justified with withdrawing”
• Dyadic phase


  Focus on interpersonal process between 2 partners

  • point where they can’t avoid talking about their relationship any longer

  Discuss their feelings with partners

  • dissatisfactions about equity and commitment are aired

  There are 2 possible outcomes

  • determined to continue breaking up or a renewed desire to repair the relationship

  Self-disclosures tend to be deeper and more frequent

  • partners feel they can reveal their true feelings
• What is the threshold of the social phase?

  The dissatisfied partner concludes, “i mean it”
• Social phase

  Telling social network

  Seeking support particularly from joint friends

  • seek support and try to forge packs and get friends to pick a side

  some friends may try and mediate between the partners to try and fix the relationship

  Overs provide reassurance or tell things that they previously kept private

  Once the news is public this is usually the point of no return
• What is the threshold for the grave-dressing phase?

  “It’s now inevitable”
• Grave-dressing phase


  Focus on aftermath

  creating public and private story

  • public story allows partners to maintain reputation usually at the expense at the other by showing them in a bad light
  • Personal story that you can live with, may differ from the public one, previously positive traits of partner now perceived as negative and tidying up memories of relationship so they can move on

  Tyring to retain some social credit by blaming the circumstances on anyone but themselves
• What is the final threshold?


  ”Time to get a new life”
• Real-world application- A03


  The model suggests that some repair strategies might be more effective at one stage of relationship breakdown

  • e.g. in the intra-psychic stage partners could be encourage to think about the positive aspects of their partner, better communication skills would be beneficial in the dyadic phase and a effective mediator may help in the social stage

  Suggests that the model can provide supportive insights to help people get through difficult times in their relationships
• Culture bound- A03

  Model is based on breakdown in individualistic cultures where relationships are mostly voluntary and often end. While relationships in collectivist cultures are often obligatory and less easy to end

  • so the whole concept of romantic relationship differs between cultures

  So the model’s application to relationship breakdown isn’t useful in all cultures
• Incomplete model- A03

  5th stage later added

  • resurrection phase
  • apply experiences from breakup to future relationships

  Early stages less complete

  • participants in research studies are asked to report experiences after relationship has ended where the first few stages may have been some time ago and their memories may be distorted

  Doesn’t take into account movement between stages

  • Progression from one phase to the next may not be inevitable and it’s possible to return to an earlier phase
  • breakdown isn’t linear

  Revisions have made model more complete
• Description rather than explanation- A03

  Duck’s model describes the process of relationship breakdown through stages but focuses on what happens rather than the factors causing the breakdown

  Felmlee’s fatal attraction hypothesis

  • in contrast explains why a relationship breaks down
  • suggests that the trait that led to initial attraction may later be seen as undesirable

  So Duck’s model might be improved by adding some of Felmlee’s approach