duck's phase model

what are the four stages of Duck’s phase model?

• stage 1 - intra-psychic stage

• stage 2 - dyadic phase

• stage 3 - social phase

• stage 4 - grave dressing

what occurs in the intra-psychic stage?

• a person admits to themselves that they’re dissatisfied with their relationship

• focuses on internal thought process that occurs before confronting

what occurs in the dyadic phase?

• when a person confronts their partner and voices their dissatisfaction

• dissatisfied partner rethinks alternatives to their current relationship

what occurs in the social phase?

• the couple shares their disagreement with friends and family

• friends and family intervene, take sides, and offer advice

what occurs in the grave dressing phase?

• after relationship ends, individuals minimise their own faults and maximise their partners

• to show themselves as trustworthy and loyal to attract a new partner

why is duck’s phase model not a full explanation?

• not everyone will go through all phases

• some people are more quiet with relationships so don’t express dissatisfaction with friends/family

• therefore can’t explain relationship breakdown in all couples/scenarios

what individual differences are there in relation to age?

• studies found friends and relatives tend to see teenagers’ break up as less serious

• however ending of relationships of older couples is seen as more distressing, and more effort put into reconciling partners

• model doesn’t apply to all couples

how has duck’s model had real world application to couples counselling?

• couples advised to use different strategies depending on what stage they’re in

• e.g. if in intra-psychic phase, may be advised to shift attention to positive aspects of their partner’s personalities

• high ecological validity