Ducks phase model of relationship breakdown

• What are the four stages of relationship breakdown?

  intra-psychic

  Dyadic

  Social phase

  Grave dressing phase
• Intra-psychic


  This is when a person admits to themselves that they are unhappy/dissatisfied in their relationship. This phase focuses on the internal thoughts that a person is having on their relationship worries and occurs before addressing this with their partner.

  
• In the intra - psychic stage, what can a person make to determine whether to end or stay in their relationship?

  A pros and cons list
• Dyadic phase


  This phase occurs when you voice your dissatisfaction to your partner. in this there are common complaints, like commitment problems, that occur in which results in the breaking up of a relationship.

  
• Social phase


  This phase occurs when you confront your family and friends about the break up, During this phase its harder for those couples to get back together as family and friends may convince you not to which can make making up more problematic.

  
• Grave dressing phase


  This phase occurs when each partner makes up their own version of why they broke up, minimising their faults and maximising their partners but also trying to appear as loyal and trustworthy when trying to get to know other people.

  
• how is this research useful to relationship counsellors?

  Counsellors will be able to decipher which stage their client is in and will give them the correct strategies and advice in order attempt to salvage the relationship which can then lead to a couple having stronger stability in the future = high ecological validity.
• Does Ducks theory apply cross culturally?

  No it doesnt, within individualistic cultures, you will be able to go through each stage of breakdown much easier and if you tell your family and friends about the break up it is easier for them to accept it and move on. Whereas within collectivist cultures, Ducks breakdown theory may happen differently, the social phase my happen first and instead of accepting the break up, family and friends may convince them to get back together with their partner.
• Ducks theory is retrospective


  It is retrospective as some people may forget the details of their breakup after some time and they may not be able to recall everything correctly.