1. Breakdown:
one partner
becomes
distressed with
the relationship
2. Intrapsychic process: feelings are not
discussed with the partner but are expressed
in other ways (e.g. diary). Individual becomes
socially withdrawn + re-evaluated relationship
3. Dyadic process: confront their
partner + discuss feelings + future.
Relationship can be saved at this
point by seeking help from others.
4. Social process: involvement of peers who can
support them + offer advice. This may speed up the
breakdown due to revelations about one partner
5. Grave-dressing process:
individuals present
themselves in a positive light.
They reconstruct the failure of
the relationships so it does
not show their contribution as
unfavourable. There are
multiple versions of the story
depending on the audience
6. Resurrection process: partners prepare
themselves for new relationships by changing
themselves + building on past mistakes/ expierences
AO2
Tashiro + Frazier
Supports the grave-dressing
+ resurrection processes
Surveyed real life
undergraduates
who has recently
broken up
Reported emotional
distress + personal growth
Breaking up gave
them new insights into
themselves + ideas
about future partners
Evidence that
grave-dressing +
resurrection
processes
happen in real
life as they were
able to put past
relationships
behind them +
get on with life
Cina et al.
Positive outcome of this model is the
development of Couples Coping
Enhancement Training (CCET) programme
CCET aims to sensitise
couples to issues of
equity + respect,
improve communication
+ problem-solving skills
Compared 50 couples
who received CCET to
a control group who
did not receive it
Found that the
CCET group had
higher marital
quality after training
The model of breakdown has had a
positive impact on real life couples + the
stages can be applied to real life situations
Ethical
issues
Criticism: sensitive area.
There are issues of
vulnerability, privacy +
confidentiality
Participants may become distressed
by revisiting failed relationships
Issues are personal so privacy +
confidentiality may be breached
E.g. victim of domestic violence. Researcher
has to decide whether to terminate the study
to prevent any further harm from being caused
Research
may be
limited due to
ethical issues
+ not all
types of
couples can
take part
Duck
Criticism:
does not
explain why
relationships
breakdown,
only describes
the stages
Earlier
research
explain why
relationships
breakdown
Lack of skills: people seem
like they are uninterested +
this is unrewarding
Lack of stimulation: we
have certain expectations
when it comes to
relationships, if we do not
receive stimulation from a
relationships we feel
justified to leave it
Maintenance difficulties: distance
can put a strain on relationships