Outline one model of relationship breakdown. Evaluate this and one other approach/theory Stephanie Rollie and Steve Duck developed a model of the breakdown of relationships.
Outline one model of relationship breakdown. Evaluate this and one other approach/theory
Stephanie Rollie and Steve Duck developed a model of the breakdown of relationships. Unlike the previous four phase model by Duck, this model focuses on the processes of relationship breakdown rather than the phases people pass through. The six processes of this model are, breakdown, intra-psychic, dyadic, social, grave dressing and resurrection. The breakdown is when one partner becomes increasingly dissatisfied. The intra-psychic processes involve social withdrawal and a focus on a partner’s faults and a sense of being under benefitted. It is suggested by research that when people are depressed they have a tendency to withdraw from social interaction with others (Segrin). The result of this may cause them to re-evaluate the relationship and consider possible alternatives. The dyadic process occurs when partners begin talking about the problems that at least one of them in unhappy with. These dyadic processes may bring up reasons for staying in the relationship (e.g. for the good of the children) but also reasons to leave (e.g. a belief of things cannot change). During the social processes the breakup is ‘aired’ and made public, for example to friends and family. Advice and support is sought from outside the relationship and alliances are created. These processes often include denigration of the partner (‘I never liked him’ ‘You could do better’) and scapegoating (‘It’s all her fault). Social implications are also negotiated here (care of children). The grave dressing process is so called because as a relationship dies, we must create an account of how it happened, what it was like and how it died, like we create an inscription on a gravestone. Ex partners begin to organise their post-relationship lives and publicise their own accounts of the breakdown. It is likely that different stories are offered to different people (e.g. parents, friends) rather than one version for all. Resurrection, the final process addresses how each partner prepares themselves for relationships later on.
