Termination Process in Romantic Relationships
Introduction The termination process of a romantic relationship is a major focus in research on relationships and their downfall. This disengagement has many parts to it and in order to understand relationships and the likelihood of their success, we must first be able to conduct studies to figure out the steps to this disengagement process. Also, in order to understand human behavior and generalize trends of decisions that are likely to be made, we must test the differences in how men and women approach relationship disengagement. This approach to dissolution can also tell us a great deal about the difference in the thinking process of men and women when making other decisions in life. This current study will focus on the approaches men and women take in relationship termination, the difference in initiation of break-up based on gender, and the influence of resources during a relationship on the existence of post break-up friendship.
Literature Review
Social Penetration Theory Multiple studies and research have been done on the disengagement process of relationships and the steps that a couple takes to terminate their relationship. Altman and Taylor (1973) studied how the disengagement process in a relationship is primarily the relationship growth process in reverse and later coined this as The Social Penetration Theory. However, over the years, other researchers’ works have challenged this termination process and further questioned it. The studies that will be provided as evidence for our current study are ones that test the relationship dissolution and how it differs based on gender and approaches taken by both partners involved. In addition, whether friendship is possible after a couple has broken up and under what circumstances.
Assertiveness vs. Unassertiveness Baxter (1984) qualitatively studied the process by which personal relationships dissolved and the steps that occur as the partners slowly separate from each other. This experiment
Literature Review
Social Penetration Theory Multiple studies and research have been done on the disengagement process of relationships and the steps that a couple takes to terminate their relationship. Altman and Taylor (1973) studied how the disengagement process in a relationship is primarily the relationship growth process in reverse and later coined this as The Social Penetration Theory. However, over the years, other researchers’ works have challenged this termination process and further questioned it. The studies that will be provided as evidence for our current study are ones that test the relationship dissolution and how it differs based on gender and approaches taken by both partners involved. In addition, whether friendship is possible after a couple has broken up and under what circumstances.
Assertiveness vs. Unassertiveness Baxter (1984) qualitatively studied the process by which personal relationships dissolved and the steps that occur as the partners slowly separate from each other. This experiment
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