1 Steve Duck outlines the experience of relationship breakdown and describes it as an extended process rather than a single event. He further argues that, at least in voluntary relationships, three key elements (i.e. emotional, social and structural/organisational) all need to change in the ‘undoing’ of relationships. Which two of these three elements does Duck argue are ‘easily overlooked’? Can you give your own reasons why this may be the case in Western society?
2 Duck originally suggested that all relationships go through breakdown in terms of his fixed four-stage sequence (i.e. a nomothetic approach). Can you think of examples where this may not necessarily be the case? Do you think there may also be cross-cultural differences in terms of what happens to couples at each stage? Explain your answer.
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