Theories of Romantic Relationships: Duck's Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown

What is Duck’s model

Model looks at the stages partners go through when relationships are breaking down.

Identifies ‘thresholds’ or breaking points that will lead to the next stage

The intra-psychic phase

• This begins when one of the people in the relationship feels that the relationship is not working

• The person may not give voice to these feelings, and they may even try to persuade themselves that they are being silly or unreasonable

• The threshold for this phase may be expressed as, ‘I’m so sick of this; things have to change’

The dyadic phase:

• the person who has originally felt dissatisfied about the relationship airs their feelings with their partner

• It will be at this point that inequity is discussed, where costs are emphasised and rewards are dismissed as not being enough

• ‘Clearly this relationship is not working and I don’t know whether I even want to try to save it’

The social phase:

• This is the point at which each partner turns to their friends and family for support

• Friends and family may be supportive in reinforcing the person’s decision, or they may try to persuade them to try to work things out with their partner

• The threshold for this phase may be expressed as, ’This really is happening’

The grave-dressing phase:

• partner trying to tell the best ‘story’ to explain the break-up in a bid to come out of the whole mess looking like the ‘good guy’

• The threshold for this phase may be expressed as, ’It’s happened; now let’s get on with the next stage of my life’

A03: Real life application

It has important applications e.g. For repair of relationships – counselling etc.

It addresses cognitive as well as behavioural aspects

Identifies that breakdown is not just a sudden step but a process

A03: Focus on how rather then why

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According to Rollie and Duck (2006) the original of breakdown is oversimplified.

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They modified the model and added in a fifth phase – the resurrection phrase, in which ex-partners turn their attention to future relationships, using the experiences gained from their recently ended one.

E
Existence of the resurrection stage was supported by Tashiro and Frazier (2003), who found that participants (undergraduates who had recently experienced a break-up) reported experiencing personal growth as a result of it, as well as emotional distress. Furthermore they make it clear that progression through the stages is not inevitable and it is possible to return to an earlier stages at any point rather than assuming linear progression from one phase to the next.

These changes overcomes the original weaknesses of the model including the fact that it does not account for the dynamic nature of break-ups with all their inherent uncertainty and complexity.

A03: Culture bias

Based on research in individualistic cultures.

These are generally voluntary and come to an end.

Relationships in some collectivist cultures are less easy to end.

This means the model’s application is less useful in all cultures.