Evaluate one Theory of the Breakdown of Relationships

“Evaluate one theory of the breakdown of relationships.”

[25 marks]

One theory of relationship breakdown is the model by Rollie & Duck (2006), which proposes 6 stages to the breakdown of a relationship. This model is supported by observations of real life breakdowns in relationships. Tashiro and Frazier (2003) found support for the model in students, who, after relationship dissolution, experienced personal growth and insight into themselves. This correlates with the 'grave dressing processes' and the 'resurrection processes', where we add together all of the events, and define who we are, who we want to be, and who we will be in our new life after the breakdown of the relationship.

This model also focusses on emphasis of the potential for growth and learning after dissolution of the relationship, rather than on the emotional experience of the breakdown. It also takes into account repair strategies, and how intervention may be appropriate at the different stages of the breakdown process.

The model has, however, been known to hold heterosexual bias. This is because most of the studies have been developed from the experiences from white, middle class, heterosexual participants, which may not represent experiences of homosexual relationships, meaning that this model is limited to a small population, reducing potential for generalizability. This process also holds the assumption that people are in a certain type of relationship, although there are many different forms of relationship, which include cohabitations, marriages, and sometimes dating couples.

Finally, research which aims to support the model was mostly done using college students or undergraduates, who are sometimes known to be altruistic, and therefore place less importance on the relationship as a whole, and thus less concerned about the dissolution of a relationship.

“Discuss the relationship between sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour.”

[7 + 13 marks]

The theory of natural selection proposes that the fittest of the race will ultimately survive, and will develop aids, whilst removing any detrimental additions, through evolution. One example of this is the peacock's tail. The tail does not help the peacock in any way, in terms of mobility and stealth, because in fact it is extremely heavy, and would pick the peacock out as a target when predators are nearby. However, the sexual theory, proposed by Darwin, suggests that any characteristics we have developed over time, that may not be useful for flight or everyday tasks, would be used for reproduction purposes, and to help attract partners of the other sex.

There are two types of sexual selection, when talking about this theory. Intra-sexual selection involves males competing with other