Discuss one or more explanations for why relationships change or end.

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks. These can be found under the “Your tests” tab > supplemental materials.

The command term “discuss” requires candidates to offer a considered review of explanations for why relationships change or end.

Explanations of why relationships change or end may include, but are not limited to:

• social exchange theory
• equity theory
• attribution theory
• evolutionary explanations such as mate retention
• patterns of communication
• attachment styles
• fatal attraction theory
• other theories which show progression into a relationship or development/change within a relationship.

Relevant studies may include, but are not limited to:

• Flora and Seagrin’s (2003) study on the role of perception of the relationship
• Felmlee’s (1995, 1998) study investigating fatal attraction theory
• Levenson, Carstensen and Gottman’s (1994) and Gottman and Levenson’s (1992) study on communication patterns, physiological arousal, and marital satisfaction
• Buss and Shackelford’s (1997) study on mate retention behaviour in men and women.
• Fincham et al.’s (2000) and Graham and Conoley (2006) study on the relationship between attributions and marital satisfaction.

Discussion may include, but is not limited to:

• examining underlying assumptions and biases of relationships
• supporting and/or contradictory evidence
• methodological and/or ethical considerations related to research into the explanations for why relationships change or end
• cultural/gender considerations
• alternative explanations
• areas of uncertainty.

This was a very popular question — probably the most popular question within the exam. Candidates provided responses which were clearly focused on the question and in general seemed well prepared for this question. A number of different explanations were provided, including but not limited to:

• social exchange theory
• equity theory
• attribution theory
• evolutionary explanations such as mate retention
• patterns of communication
• attachment styles
• fatal attraction theory

Strengths included correct discussion of these explanations in many different ways such as: supporting and/or contradictory evidence; methodological and/or ethical considerations related to research into the explanations for why relationships change or end; cultural/gender considerations and offering alternative explanations.

Weaknesses were rare, but some candidates had problems providing explanations and decided to solely focus on research studies and findings. Some weak responses tended to provide long accounts with general knowledge of the topic.