Breaking Up is (Relatively) Easy to Do: A Script for the Dissolution of Close Relationships

Abstract

Several models of relationship dissolution imply a sequence of steps or stages, for which there might exist a cultural script. Previous research has identified a script for first dates. The present research attempted to identify a relationship dissolution script by asking men and women to list the steps that typically occur when a couple breaks up. Analysis of their 1480 responses indicated a 16-step ordered script for relation-ship dissolution. The relationship dissolution script is discussed in terms of approach-avoidance theories of conflict and relevant relationship dissolution theories.

“It's Not Really Stalking If You Know the Person”: Measuring Community Attitudes That Normalize, Justify and Minimise Stalking

“…This, in turn, reflects the broader literature on courtship and relationship scripts, which identifies (male) persistent pursuit as a normative and often successful method of entering or resuming a relationship Sinclair, 2012). It may be that strangers are more often perceived as stalkers because attempts by a known individual or former partner to start or resume a relationship are part of a commonly understood relationship initiation or dissolution script and are therefore considered more acceptable (Battaglia, Richard, Datteri, & Lord, 1998).…”

The Role of Gender in the Generation of Stalking Scripts

“…We know, for example, how people believe a first date progresses (Bartoli and Clark 2006;Frieze 1989, 1993), how individuals attempt to secure a date (Pryor and Merluzzi 1985), adolescents' scripts for sexual encounters (Krahé et al 2007), scripts relating to sexual intent (Lenton and Bryan 2005), as well as what happens when a relationship ends (Battaglia et al 1998;Honeycutt et al 1992). Results from these studies have allowed investigators to determine that generally shared scripts exist for these relationship events.…”

From “I Love You Babe” to “Leave Me Alone” - Romantic Relationship Breakups on Twitter

“…It is estimated that more than 85% of Americans [2] go through this process at least once in their life time. Correspondingly, lots of research in psychology and other fields has investigated relationship breakups, looking at dimensions such as the impact of breakups on mental health [34], post-breakup personal growth [40], or the increased use of technology for the actual act of breaking up [43].…”