There have been many studies conducted on what happens when this occurs, Duck conducted much research on this and suggested two categories for relationship dissolution: 1. Predisposing personal facts (bad habits or emotional instability), and 2. Precipitating factor (a factor created within the relationship). Duck also outlined a four-phase model, which he suggested is the path for relationship dissolution. The first being Intrapsychic phase, this is where one partner becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the relationship, then is dissatisfaction is sufficiently great, then they progress to the next phase. The next phase is the Dyadic phase; this is when the other partner becomes involved, and if no solution is found within this phase they move to the next. This phase is the Social phase; this is where the break is made public, and social implications such as children are negotiated. Also during this phase the relationship can still be saved, however if it isn’t then progress to the next and final phase is made. The final phase is the Grave-dressing phase; where ex partners begin to organise their post relationship lives, during this phase details of the break-up are made public and news of new partners is shared (if there is one).
Lee also conducted a survey of 112 break ups of pre-marital romance relationships and found evidence for 5 distinct stages. These consisted off Dissatisfaction; we dissatisfaction within the couple occurs, Exposed; where the dissaisfaction is exposed, negociation; where a discussion of issues continues from the previous stage, resolution; where a solution is being discussed, and finally termination; when no solution is found the relationship ends. He also found that those with the stronger relationships took longer to go through the stages, and those with the weaker relationships could miss the middle stages and jump dissatisfaction to termination. Also he found that the stages exposure to resolution could be used within a marriage counselling session, and that working through these stages with the counsellor could prevent termination.
Both of the models outlined by Duck and Lee are very similar, as both go through stages/phases within the break down process. The main differences are the emphasises of the studies. Lee emphasises the early stages exposure and negotiation, whereas Duck emphasises the beginning and the end especially how people react when out of the relationship. Also both of these studies were based in a western culture and Moghaddam suggests that non-western and western relationships are dominant by different concerns and so would breakdown differently. He argues that North American relationships are mainly focussed on the individual and the advantages/disadvantages of the situation around them, however non-western relationships are collective, obligatory and permanent (e.g. arranged marriages).
