Duck's Phase Model of Relationship Breakdown
Duck's phase model describes romantic relationship breakdown as a structured process rather than a single event, moving through four ordered phases, intra-psychic, dyadic, social and grave-dressing, each beginning once a specific 'threshold', a private realisation, tips the dissatisfied partner into the next stage. Later revisions added a resurrection phase, in which people use the experience to prepare for future relationships.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Learn the four original phases of Duck's model in order: intra-psychic, dyadic, social and grave-dressing.
- Learn the threshold statement that marks the start of each phase: intra-psychic ('I can't stand this any more'), dyadic ('I would be justified in withdrawing'), social ('I mean it') and grave-dressing ('It's now inevitable').
- For each phase, learn who is involved and what the dissatisfied partner is doing: intra-psychic (private brooding over the partner's behaviour, weighing up the relationship, no confrontation yet), dyadic (the couple confront the dissatisfaction directly and discuss whether to repair or end the relationship), social (the breakdown is made public to friends and family, who may take sides, offer support, or attempt to mediate) and grave-dressing (each partner constructs their own account of why the relationship ended, aiming to protect their reputation and social standing).
- Learn the later addition to the model, the resurrection phase, in which individuals use what they learned from the breakup to prepare themselves for future relationships.
- For an AO2 application question, read the scenario carefully and match each described behaviour, private brooding, direct confrontation, telling friends, or constructing a breakup story, to the correct phase and its threshold statement, justifying the match with the specific detail given.
- For an AO3 evaluation question, plan two or three points before writing, such as: the model's real-world/practical application (e.g. relationship counsellors can use the phase reached to target the right kind of intervention), a limitation about the model's fixed order (real relationship breakdowns do not always move through the phases in a strict, linear sequence, and couples can move backwards or skip stages), and a limitation about the retrospective, self-report data the model is often based on (accounts given after a breakup may be reconstructed to protect the storyteller's reputation rather than accurately reflect what happened).
- Build each evaluation paragraph using point, evidence, elaboration, link back (PEEL): state the evaluative point, support it with reasoning or evidence, elaborate on why it strengthens or weakens the model, then link the sentence explicitly back to how useful or valid Duck's model is as an explanation of relationship breakdown.
- For a full 'discuss' essay, structure the answer with an AO1 section describing the phases and thresholds in order, followed by two or three AO3 evaluation paragraphs, and finish with a conclusion that weighs the model's strengths against its limitations.
Worked example
Aisha has grown increasingly resentful of her partner Tom's lack of communication, but she has not said anything to him yet. Instead, she keeps going over his behaviour in her head, weighing up whether the relationship is still worth staying in. Using Duck's phase model, identify which phase Aisha is in and explain your reasoning.
- Note the key detail: Aisha is privately reflecting on the problem and has not yet confronted Tom directly.
- Compare this to the four phases: intra-psychic involves private brooding before any confrontation, which matches Aisha's behaviour, while dyadic, social and grave-dressing all involve the dissatisfaction becoming known to Tom or to others.
- Identify Aisha as being in the intra-psychic phase.
- Support this with the relevant threshold statement: the intra-psychic phase begins once a person privately reaches the point of 'I can't stand this any more', which matches Aisha weighing up whether the relationship is still worth staying in.
- State the final answer: Aisha is in the intra-psychic phase, since she is privately brooding on her dissatisfaction and has not yet confronted Tom, consistent with Duck's description of this first phase.
Practice questions
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Q1Name the four original phases of Duck's phase model, in order.Show answer
Answer: Intra-psychic, dyadic, social and grave-dressing.
Q2What is the threshold statement for the intra-psychic phase?Show answer
Answer: 'I can't stand this any more.'
Q3What is the threshold statement for the dyadic phase?Show answer
Answer: 'I would be justified in withdrawing.'
Q4What happens during the social phase of relationship breakdown?Show answer
Answer: The breakdown is made public to friends and family, who may take sides, offer support or advice, and can either speed up the breakup or help the couple repair the relationship.
Q5What is the purpose of the account constructed during the grave-dressing phase?Show answer
Answer: To present a socially acceptable, face-saving version of why the relationship ended, protecting the storyteller's reputation.
Q6What phase did later revisions of Duck's model add, and what is its purpose?Show answer
Answer: The resurrection phase, in which individuals use the lessons learned from the breakup to prepare for future relationships.
Q7What is the threshold statement that marks the move into the grave-dressing phase?Show answer
Answer: 'It's now inevitable.'
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a A Level Psychology exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Outline what happens during the social phase of Duck's phase model of relationship breakdown.
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After weeks of arguing, Priya and Josh finally sit down together and admit that neither of them is happy, discussing openly whether the relationship can be saved or should end. Using Duck's phase model, identify which phase this represents and explain your reasoning.
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Discuss Duck's phase model as an explanation of relationship breakdown. (16 marks)
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See real A Level Psychology past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
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