Evaluation

• Relationship breakdown model


  • Dynamic progression as opposed to a set sequence of stages through which all people pass through
  • The social dynamics within each stage can affect the chances of ex-partners reuniting, such as the spreading of rumours during the dyadic or social phases
• There may be a fifth stage of the model, as suggested by Rollie and Duck (2006), called the resurrection phase where individuals learn from the experiences of their previous relationships
• Duck's model may be oversimplified and has little ecological validity because it cannot represent the progression of real-life relationships
• RWA - Relationship breakdown can be reversed. It recognises that different repair strategies are more effective. eg. Duck 1996 recommends people in the intra-psychic phase encouraged to focus on positive aspects. + in the dyadic phase, communication. etc can be used to improve wider social skills. Helps enable a fostering a stable relationship. These insights can be used in relationship counselling.
• Counterpoint to RWA - May not apply to cross-cultural relationships. Mostly industrialised, western, individualist cultures where relationships often are voluntary whereas in collectivist cultures they may be obligatory, less easy to end and involves the wider family members.