11th January 2022 Duck’s Model of Relationship Breakdown

Describe and evaluate duck’s phase model of relationship breakdown (16)

Why might a relationship break down:

 Pre-existing Doom – feeling that it was never going to work in the first place
 Mechanical Failure – compatibility issues
 Sudden Death – major problem which means this relationship can no longer continue i.e.,
affair

Intra-psychic Phase – weighs up pros and cons of the relationship, comparing to being alone instead
of other relationships

Dyadic Phase – When you tell the partner what you’re thinking, ‘isn’t working because...’

Social Phase – When you tell others about your relationship i.e., friends

Grave Dressing Phase – post breakup support – whether lack of or full on

1. The researcher could have used an open-ended questionnaire as to provide convenience

and uniformity across questions.
2. It allows the researcher to go into a lot of detail on one specific case and providing tailored
personal responses of their exact behaviour instead of making assumptions
3.