Explain why relationships may change or end.

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.

The command term “explain” requires candidates to give a detailed account, including reasons and causes, as to why relationships may change or end.

Candidates do not have to differentiate between relationships that change or end to gain high marks.

Candidates may address different types of relationships, for example, romantic relationships, marriages, friendship, family relationships.

Responses may address how factors such as predisposing personal factors, intimacy, commitment or similar/different interests can influence if relationships may change or end.

As part of their explanation, candidates should outline the theories/studies that underpin these explanations, evaluate their effectiveness, or discuss their application in different relationships.

Explanations may include, but are not limited to:

• social exchange theory
• equity theory
• patterns of accommodation
• attachment styles
• Sternberg’s triangular (triarchic) theory of love.

Evidence of critical thinking may be demonstrated by, but is not limited to:

• analysis and application of research
• a discussion of cultural differences
• a discussion of gender differences.

Studies could include, but are not limited to:

• Flora and Segrin (2003) on the role of perception of the relationship
• Duck et al. (1988) on the role of age differences in couples
• Duck (1992) on the role of socio-economic differences in couples.

Candidates may address a small number of explanations of why relationships may change or end in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or may address a larger number of explanations of why relationships may change or end in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.