Relationship Breakdown

Q: Duck’s Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown

__Duck (2007)__ proposed a phase model of relationship breakdown. __Duck__ argued that the ending of a relationship is not a one-off event, but a process that takes time and goes through four distinct phases.

Q: Duck’s Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown Cont.

__Duck (2007)__ proposed a phase model of relationship breakdown. __Duck__ argued that the ending of a relationship is not a one-off event, but a process that takes time and goes through four distinct phases.

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Duck’s Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown

Duck (2007) proposed a phase model of relationship breakdown. Duck argued that the ending of a relationship is not a one-off event, but a process that takes time and goes through four distinct phases.

The four phases

The four distinct phases of a breakdown are:
- Intra-psychic.
- Dyadic.
- Social.
- Grave-dressing.

Duck's model

Each phase is marked by one or both partners reaching a threshold, a point at which their perception of the relationship changes (usually for the worse).
A break-up begins one partner realises that they are dissatisfied with the relationship and distressed about the way things are going.

Intra-psychic phase

Intra-psychic phase is the first phase of relationship breakdown.
The focus is on cognitive processes happening within the individual.
During this first phase, the dissatisfied partner considers the reasons for their dissatisfaction.
These reasons centre mainly on the shortcomings of the other partner.

Intra-psychic phase cont.

The dissatisfied partner thinks over matters privately and may share them with a trusted friend.
They weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of the relationship and evaluate these against the alternatives (including being alone) and begin to make plans for the future.

Dyadic phase

The second phase is known as the dyadic phase where the focus is on the interpersonal processes between the two partners.
The couple has reached a point where they can no longer avoid talking about their relationship.

Dyadic phase cont.

The dyadic phase inevitably results in a number of confrontations over time, in which the relationship is discussed and dissatisfactions are raised.
These are characterised by anxiety, hostility, complaints about lack of equity, resentment over the balance of roles and a re-thinking of the commitment that kept the couple together.

Dyadic phase outcomes

Two possible outcomes emerge from the dyadic phase: the decision to continue with the break-up of the relationship, or a renewed desire to repair it.
If attempts to repair the relationship fail (or the couple decide that the relationship is beyond repair), the third phase (the social phase) is triggered.

Duck’s Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown Cont.

Grave-dressing phase

The fourth phase (grave-dressing) focuses on the aftermath, where both partners try to spin a favourable story about the breakdown for everyone else to hear.
This allows them to save face and maintain a positive reputation, often at the expense of the other partner.
Gossip plays an important role in this phase because each partner tries to retain some social credit by placing blaming on their former partner or other people for the breakdown.

Grave-dressing phase cont.

Grave-dressing also involves creating a personal story you can live with, which may differ from the public one.
This involves tidying up memories of the relationship which can result in a degree of rewriting of history.

Grave-dressing phase 3

Traits found exciting or endearing at the start are now thought of more negatively.
But the ex-partners might simply decide to let bygones be bygones and move on, deciding that they weren’t compatible in the first place.