Discuss research into the breakdown of

All in all both theories are useful tools for explaining the breakdown of romantic relationships. He surveyed romantic break ups and found that most of the participants appeared to be going through the same five phases: Each ex-partner tells others why they think the relationship failed, it has been theorised that in this phase women aim to befriend their ex whereas men prefer to cut their losses and move on.

This could be overcome by the researchers offering therapy sessions post experiment; this would hopefully assure that participants leave the experiment in a better, or at least the same mental state.

A limitation of the evolutionary perspective on relationships is that it is deterministic. The relationships may be saved at this point due to a reassessment of goals, possibilities or commitment, or it may break down further.

For example, nowadays, due to changes within our environment it has enabled women to be less dependent on men for their resources. The evolutionary perspective neglects personal choice and environmental influences, claiming that human behaviour is influenced by adaptations that developed in the Stone Age.

The research may have been affected by social desirability bias due to the self-reporting nature of the experiment. The first prediction is the costs related to emotional investment. This suggests that this model ignores individual differences such as this one. Paying attention to the things that people say, the topics that they discuss and the ways in which they talk about their relationship offers both an insight into their stage and also suggests interventions appropriate to that stage.

Assessing which stage a couple is in can help to identify what steps should be taken to save the relationship. The main issue with this is that all relationship are different so the theories cannot be applied universally.

The fourth stage; resolution: Marital crises of these relationships are also seen as the concern of the entire family, not just the couple. This therefore challenges the claim of these being universal human behaviours as it has ignored the dynamic nature of relationship breakdown.

Assessing which stage a couple is in can help to identify what steps should be taken to save the relationship. The gender bias is harder to overcome in something like therapy as the therapists will be applying the same model to two different genders which may remove some of the effectiveness as an explaining tool.

All in all both theories are useful tools for explaining the breakdown of romantic relationships. The third prediction is infidelity. Another strength of Ducks phase model of breakdown is that the model stresses the importance of communication in relationship breakdown.

Researcher Hollway argues that gender differences evident in the relationship behaviour of males and females reflect less the role of evolutionary forces and more the shared cultural discourses of the different sexes.

However, if the relationship breaks down, the male may leave his children unsupported. Therefore, it is hard to measure the issues which led to the breakdown effectively. Participants could be provided a copy of the research and be given the ability to ask the experimenters to cut out specific details; this could mean changing key parts of the research or making the research less useful which is another potential issue.

This makes sense only if the environmental challenges remain static over evolutionary time. They surveyed students that had recently broken up with a partner; the participants reported that they had experienced emotional distress and personal growth.

If this is not successful, the social phase has been reached where the decision to leave the relationship is made and is publically discussed between third parties.

This highlights the positive implications of the model, and how it can help couples amend the relationship, despite reaching later stages. For example, a woman in an abusive relationship may fear recrimination from her abuser should he discover her participation in the research.

In order to prevent any reputational damage, the rejecters will be motivated to minimize any reputational damage and make efforts to be seen as reasonable and compassionate rather than cruel and heartless.

Perilloux and Buss have developed an explanation of why evolution might have shaped the behaviour of rejecters and rejectees differently. A limitation of the evolutionary perspective on relationships is that it is deterministic.

This may be a deliberate attempt to break up a relationship with a relatively poor-quality mate, in order to make way for a higher-quality mate. Overall, evolutionary explanations of sex differences in this area represent a gender-biased representation of how males and females behave during relationship break-ups.

The second prediction is increasing commitment as a response to the threat of a break up. Their research is based on four main predictions. The final phase of this theory is the resurrection phase, in this phase partners prepare themselves for new relationships by building upon their past dating mistakes.

This means that they cannot be applied to friendships or homosexual relationships. More essays like this: Use the tools on the right to view answers by topic or by past paper. However, if the relationship breaks down, the male may leave his children unsupported. In the case of breakdowns, gender differences in how an individual reacts may be less determined by our adaptive biology and more to do with what males and females believe is the appropriate way to behave given that they are products of gender-specific socialization within that society.

According to his phase model of the breakup of a relationship, it all begins with the breakdown of the relationship where there is dissatisfaction within the relationship. Discuss research into the breakdown of romantic relationships (24 marks) One piece of research in to the breakdown of romantic relationships is by Duck and Rollie from their theory of relationship dissolution.

They stated that there are 4 stages to how relationships break down: intra-psychic, dyadic, social and finally grave-dressing. Taking into account both factors the theory is praised for being an holistic account and therefore a more likely account for the explanation into the breakdown of all romantic relationships and thus increases the internal validity of the theory.

Discuss research into the breakdown of romantic relationships (24) One approach to the breakdown of romantic relationships is a theory devised by Duck in Duck’s theory is a stage theory that covers both the reasons for breaking up and also the actual stages of dissolution.

Discuss research into the breakdown of romantic relationships. (8 marks + 16 marks) Here you should outline and evaluate theories such as Rollie and Duck's six step model and Duck's three reasons for breakdown.

You can discuss as many theories as you want, but. Discuss research into the breakdown of romantic relationships (24) One approach to the breakdown of romantic relationships is a theory devised by Duck in Duck’s theory is a stage theory that covers both the reasons for breaking up and also the actual stages of dissolution.

One piece of research into the breakdown of romantic relationships is from Duck (). According to his phase model of the breakup of a relationship, it all begins with the breakdown of the relationship where there is dissatisfaction within the relationship.

Discuss research into the breakdown of