Duck's Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown

Breakdown of Relationships: Psychology

Relationships are complex. They can involve intimate relations between partners, platonic relationships between friends, and the loving relationships we experience between family members. A lot of human society is based on cultivating relationships, and oftentimes, it is key to reproductive success.

So, why is it that relationships break down? Let's explore the breakdown of relationships from a psychological perspective. One of the key theories that explore the breakdown of relationships is Duck's phase model of relationship breakdown.

Psychology's Duck’s Phase Model

Relationships break down for multiple reasons, and Duck explored three potential causes: pre-existing doom, mechanical failure, and sudden death. Duck’s phase model of relationship breakdown has several stages: the intrapsychic stage, the dyadic stage, the social stage, and the grave dressing stage.

Intrapsychic Phase

The first stage of Duck’s model is the intrapsychic stage. A person thinks about how they are dissatisfied in their relationship and begins to weigh up the costs and benefits of staying in that relationship. At the end of this stage, the person reaches a threshold of thinking, ‘I can’t stand this anymore.'

Dyadic Phase

At this stage, the dissatisfied partner confronts their partner about the issues they are experiencing, and the breakup is initiated. The threshold for this stage is ‘I would be justified in withdrawing.’

Social Phase

At this stage, the dissatisfied partner discusses their issues with their partner and alerts their social circle. Duck states that, at this point, it is much more difficult for a couple to repair their relationship as their problems have been made public, but it is still possible. This phase normally leads to the dissolution of the relationship, and the threshold is ‘I mean it.'

Grave Dressing Phase: Grave Dressing Definition

At the end of a relationship, each partner tries to minimise their faults and maximise their positive attributes, known as grave dressing. The attempt to make themselves look good and their partner bad prepares for a new relationship. The threshold at this stage is ‘it’s time to start a new life.’

Fig. 2 - The grave dressing stage refers to how each partner attempts to maximise positive attributes after the relationship breakdown.

Evaluation of Duck’s Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown

Duck's phase model of relationship breakdown explores the different phases people in relationships go through when the relationship begins to decline. But what are the strengths and weaknesses of Duck’s phase model of relationship? Is the theory credible in the grand scheme of things? Let's explore this through an evaluation of Duck's phase model.

Strengths

First, let's examine the strengths of Duck's phase model of relationship breakdown.

Research support: Tashiro and Frazier (2003) documented that undergraduates who recently experienced a breakup reported personal growth after the event as well as emotional distress.

• Tashiro and Frazier (2003) also found that if ex-partners saw the situation as responsible for the breakup rather than their fault, they often saw the end of the relationship in a positive light.

Real-world applications: Duck’s phase model can help couples understand why a relationship broke down, which may help them overcome the breakup. The model can help when a couple goes through the first two stages to repair the relationship, such as focusing on the positive aspects of their partners and communicating clearly.

• It may be used in couples’ or individual therapy to help people understand their issues, perhaps preventing breakups.

Weaknesses

Now, let's explore some of the weaknesses of Duck's phase model of relationship breakdown.

Retrospective and self-reported data: most research into Duck’s model is retrospective, meaning that partners may remember details inaccurately or have bias. A further issue is that the data is often self-reported, i.e., it is subjective, unscientific, and subject to bias.

Ethical issues: studying people’s relationships is problematic as it may cause psychological harm to the participants if they have to recall the breakdown of a relationship, which is often depressing.

Subjectivity: the social phase is subjective, i.e., people experience it differently. Dickson (1995) found that whilst the friends and family of younger couples didn’t try to get them back together, family and friends encouraged older couples to get back together. This finding suggests that the social stage is not the same for everyone, and Duck’s phase model cannot be generalised.

Cultural bias: Duck’s model applies mainly to individualistic cultures, where a breakup is an individual’s choice regardless of the effect on their wider communities/groups. In collectivist cultures, a relationship and its outcome could be the group’s choice and, therefore, not go through the stages Duck described.

Why do relationships break down? Duck’s model explains how relationships break down but not why and thus only gives a limited understanding of relationship breakdown. Without the why, the approach is simplified and doesn’t account for individual differences, making it nomothetic.