DUCK'S PHASE MODEL OF RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWN

• Duck's phase model of relationship breakdown suggests that the process of dissolution consists of several distinctive stages: the intra-psychic stage, the dyadic stage, the social phase, and the grave-dressing stage.
• The break-up process is greatly affected by partners’ individual differences, and cultural norms and values, so a more detailed idiographic approach may reveal individual reasons for break-up and the experiences different couples go through, giving psychologists a better understanding of the issue.
• The first phase in Duck's model is the intra-psychic stage, where a person admits to themselves that they are dissatisfied with their relationship and spends a lot of time thinking about the reasons for this dissatisfaction and possible ways forward.
• The dyadic phase in Duck's model occurs when a person confronts their partner and voices their dissatisfaction, with common complaints involving a partner's commitment to relationships.
• The social phase of relationship breakdown, as per Duck's model, involves involving friends and relatives and making their distress public.
• The threshold that is reached at the social phase of Duck's model is 'I mean it', indicating that the conflict has reached a point where it is more difficult for a couple to mend their relationship.
• The social phase usually leads to the dissolution of the relationship.
• The grave-dressing stage in Duck's model is when both sides construct their version of why their relationship broke down, usually minimising their faults and maximising their partner's, but at the same time trying to show themselves as trustworthy and loyal in order to attract a new partner.
• The resurrection phase, proposed by Duck and Rollie in 2006, is a stage where people move beyond the pain and distress associated with ending the relationship, and experience personal growth.
• Tashiro and Frazier's (2003) study supports the existence of the resurrection stage in Duck's model, as participants reported experiencing personal growth as a result of it, as well as emotional distress.
• Tashiro and Frazier's (2003) research also indicates the importance of the grave-dressing stage, as the dissolution of a relationship is a very stressful event, and many people experience anxiety and depression while going through it.
• According to Tashiro and Frazier (2003), if ex-partners viewed the situation, rather than their own faults, as being responsible for the break-up, they often saw the ending relationships in a more positive light.
• There are also significant ethical issues involved in investigating relationship breakdown, such as privacy, especially if the research involves victims of domestic abuse.
• People's memories of the event may not be accurate, and may also be coloured by their current situation, which means that their answers are not reliable.
• Couples may be advised to use different strategies depending on the phase they are currently in.
• The model is based on relationships from individualist cultures, where ending the relationships is a voluntary choice, and separation and divorce are easily obtainable and do not carry stigma.
• Duck's model successfully describes how relationships break down, but not why.
• Most of the research examining relationship breakdown is based on retrospective data, using questionnaires or interviews to ask participants about the break-up some time after it happened.
• As most stage theories, it focuses on establishing universal principles of behaviour that would be true for all people (nomothetic approach).
• For a person in the intra-psychic phase it may be more useful to shift their attention to the positive aspects of their partner's personality, while for a couple in the dyadic phase communication about dissatisfaction and ways to balance relationships is crucial.
• Duck's model won't necessarily apply to all couples, and therefore suggests that the model is unable to accurately predict breakdown in different types of relationship.
• Duck's model of relationship breakdown can be used successfully to help couples contemplating break-up to improve their relationships and stay together.
• Tashiro and Frasier (2003) showed that viewing the situation, rather than own faults, as being responsible for ending the relationships, helps people to see the break-up in a more positive light and move on, just as Duck's model predicts.
• There are also the ethical issues of confidentiality and protection from psychological harm, as participants may experience distress in the process of the research.
• Duck's model is culturally biased as it assumes that the break-up process is universal, which is clearly not the case.
• Duck's model has useful applications, especially in relation to couples’ counselling.
• The social phase is greatly affected by individual differences, especially in relation to age.
• Dickson (1995) found that while friends and relatives tend to see teenagers' break-ups as less serious and wouldn't put much effort into reconciling partners, the ending of relationships by older couples is seen as more distressing and those close to the couple put more effort into bringing them back together.
• Duck's phase model, even though it seems to be supported by research, does not necessarily describe how break-ups happen in real life, weakening the model's ability to present an accurate picture of relationship breakdown.