Divorce and Dissolution of Romantic Relationships: Stage Models and Their Limitations

Once formed, relationships do not simply exist or continue at a given level. Instead, they are always changing and evolving. In this chapter we consider relational change, focusing particularly on change associated with what has been labeled relational dissolution, termination, breakup, and ending. The fact that this change has been labeled suggests that there are specific, identifiable, and definable characteristics that allow individuals to point to this as a particular relational phenomenon. The recognition of potential commonalties associated with this relational change coupled with the social implications associated with divorce have made the understanding and modeling of relational dissolution important tasks for researchers.