Dissolution of relationship

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  • Created by: Jack
  • Created on: 04-05-15 14:29
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  • Dissolution of a relationship
    • Duck and Rollie's phase model
      • AO1
        • 4 phases, each seperated by a threshold.
          • 1) Intrapsychic phase - person thinks there is a problem in the relationship.
            • Threshold = 'I can't stand it anymore'
          • 2) Dyadic phase - person confronts partner about problem.
            • Threshold = 'I would be justified in leaving'.
          • 3) Social phase - person gets support from their friends and family (by sharing their concerns). RELATION-SHIP ENDS HERE.
            • Threshold = 'I mean it'.
          • 4) Grave dressing phase - person changes their involvement in the break up (ie. shift the blame and responsibility)
            • This allows emotional recovery, so new relationships can be formed.
      • AO2
        • Evidence for
          • FRAZER - questionnaire for 126 students who had broken up. Found evidence for the last 2 stages.
            • Improves effectiveness of theory as it provides clear evidence for the last 2 stages.
          • Considered a realistic view of break up as we do go through stages and thresholds.
        • Evidence against
          • Fails to take into account the emotional state of the person.
            • Reduces effectiveness as not all factors are taken into account.
          • Fails to explain why the relationship reaches the point of break up (e.g. what happens before the intrapsychic phase?)
    • Lee's theory
      • AO1
        • Overcomes some of Rollie and Duck's problems (how intrapsychic phase is reached)
        • 1) Dissatisfact-ion - person feels dissatisfied with the relationship.
          • 2) Exposure - person tells partner about the problem.
            • 3) Negotiation - partners negotiate how to resolve the issue. This can result in 2 things...
              • (Most emotionally intense parts)
              • 4) Resolution - relationship recovers and carries on.
              • 4) Termination - problem isn't solved so relationship ends.
            • (Most emotionally intense parts)
      • AO2
        • Evidence for
          • LEE - surveyed 112 premarital people during break up. Found clear evidence for first 3 stages.
            • Increases theory's effectiveness as there was strong emphasis on the first 3 stages, especially dissatisfaction
              • Increases effectiveness OVER Rollie and Duck's theory because Lee's theory gives reasons for break up to start.
        • Evidence against
          • Too rigid - not all people go through all the same stages at the same speed
            • e.g.1 - if you find your partner cheating, you would go through rapid exposure to termination (no negotiation).
              • Decreases theory's effectiveness as it cannot explain all types of relationship break up.
                • e.g.2 - some people are dissatisfied with their relationship, but never bring it up, so never get to exposure.
            • e.g.2 - some people are dissatisfied with their relationship, but never bring it up, so never get to exposure.
    • General AO2/3
      • Debates
        • Both are strongly deterministic as our only our thoughts determine whether we recover the relationship, or go to break up.
          • HOWEVER there is an element of free will as we choose if and when to move on to the next stage.
            • This is an example of soft determinism, which increases effectiveness of the theory as it allows for a more flexible debate.
      • Approaches
        • Both are cognitive theories.
          • Because the stages you go through are directly determined by your thought processes.
      • Issues
        • Cultural issue -they can only explain break up in Western romantic choice based relationships, not traditional arranged marriages.
          • BUT traditional arranged marriages don't include a break up as part of the relationship, so these theories can only explain break up in Western cultures as this is the only place we find it.
            • This actually increases effectiveness of both theories as they can explain an effect only found in individualistic relationships.
      • Research Methods
        • All research has been done on young, heterosexual, premarital couples.
          • Research therefore lacks population validity as we cannot generalise the findings to older or homosexual relationships breaking up.
            • Decreases support of the studies results, so reduces the effectiveness of the theory.
        • Surveys used (mainly interviews)
          • Gives rich qualitative data, which increases our understanding of relationship break up.
            • Increases studies support for theories, so increases the overall effectiveness of the theories.

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