Relationship Development

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Relationship Development
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Knapps Relationship Escalation Model

• Step 1 Initiation
• Very short (Sometimes just seconds)
• Want to make favorable first impressions
• Observe general appearance and mannerisms
• Use standard greetings (Hello, How are you?)

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Knapps Relationship Escalation Model

• Step 2 Experimenting
• Gain information through asking questions
• Decide whether or not to continue relationship
• Many relationships do not continue pass this
  point
• What is your zodiac sign?

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Knapps Relationship Escalation Model

• Step 3 Intensifying
• It is common in this stage to self-disclose
• Relationship becomes less formal
• Begin to see each other as individuals
• Each person states the level of commitment they
  have to the relationship

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Knapps Relationship Escalation Model

• Stage 4 Integrating
• Instead of being individuals they become a pair
• Others view them as being together or a pair
• This is a shared relational identity
• We rather than I or You

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Knapps Relationship Escalation Model

• Stage 5 Bonding
• Formal or legal announcement of the relationship
  is made
• Marriage
• Business Agreement
• Very few relationships will ever reach this level

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The Practice of Relationship Development

• Phenomenological Approach
• Created by psychologist Carl Rogers
• People draw close to others when their outward
  behavior is congruent with their inner feelings
• They unconditionally accept others for who they
  are, not for what they do
• They listen to what others say with the
  understanding of what its like to be them.

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The Practice of Relationship Development

• Rewards and Costs of Interaction
• The Social Exchange Theory
• Situations in relationships where benefits exceed
  costs
• or
• Situations where benefits equal costs
• If benefits outweigh the costs, then the
  relationship is more worthwhile and likely to
  survive, than a relationship where costs exceed
  benefits.

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Ducks Relationship Filtering Model

• Sociological/Incidental Cues Restrictions on who
  we meet due to where we live or work.
• An example is Lesley has the same schedule as
  Dan. They see each other every day. Lesley and
  Mark, however, have different schedules. Mark is
  a great guy and Lesley might really have liked
  Mark more than Dan, but they never had the chance
  to meet each other.
• Pre-interaction The information we have about
  people before we even meet them. This allows us
  decide if we want to avoid them or meet them.
• An example of this is Dan saw Lesley and thought
  she was very beautiful, so he asked one of his
  friends about her. His friend told him she was
  very smart and fun to be around. Dan also asked
  about the girl Lesley was walking with. Dans
  friend told him that she didnt have a very good
  reputation and was not very smart either. This
  led Dan to ask Lesley out instead of her friend.

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Ducks Relationship Filtering Model

• Interaction Cues Decide whether to include or
  exclude person from possible relationships.
• For instance Once Dan and Lesley talked over
  their first few dates, they decided they wanted
  to continue dating more seriously because what
  they had judged about one another was positive.
• Cognitive Cues The deepest level. Decide if
  personalities match our own. Other person
  becomes best friend or partner.
• An example of this is when Lesley had a problem
  with one of her friends she came to Dan to talk
  about it. She and Dan shared the same beliefs
  about the disagreement, allowing Lesley to trust
  Dan and feel they were on the same level. She
  feels like she can confide in Dan and he will
  always understand.

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Knapps Relationship Termination Model

• Step 1 Differentiating
• Begin to use Me no longer We
• Become more independent
• Start own hobbies
• Warning sign that partners need to address status

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Knapps Relationship Termination Model

• Step 2 Circumscribing
• Diminishing communication
• Couple still appears normal to others
• Attempts can be made to get relationship to a
  positive place again

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Knapps Relationship Termination Model

• Step 3 Stagnating
• Avoid discussing relationship because each knows
  what other has to say
• Outsiders tend to notice that something is wrong

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Knapps Relationship Termination Model

• Step 4 Avoiding
• Physically the couple separates from each other
• Avoid each other completely
• No longer attached to each other

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Knapps Relationship Termination Model

• Step 5 Terminating
• Last and final stage of the relationship
• Can be a positive or a negative thing
• Relationship is completely over
• Could be a divorce or roommates moving out

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Citations

• Knapp, Mark. (1984). Interpersonal communication
  and human relationships. Boston Allyn and Bacon.
  Retrieved Saturday, November 25, 2006 from
  Interpersonal Communication.
•  
• Duck, Stephen. (1985). Social and personal
  relationships. In M.L. Knapp and G.R. Miller
  (Eds.) Handbook of interpersonal communication
  (pp. 665-686). Beverly Hills, CA Sage. Retrieved
  Saturday, November 25, 2006 from Interpersonal
  Communication.
•  A first look at communication theory sixth
  edition Em Griffin. McGraw Hill, New York, New
  York 2006. Retrieved Saturday, November 06, 2006
  from Don Lowe.
• Clipartheaven Website. (2004). http//clipartheave
  n.com/. Retrieved Saturday, November 25, 2006
  from www.google.com.