Stages of Relationships Tamara Arrington Indiana State University

Mark Knapp University of Texas, Austin Mark L. Knapp (PhD, Pennsylvania State University, 1966) is internationally known for his work in nonverbal communication. Dr. Knapp teaches courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels in nonverbal communication, communication and personal relationships, lying and deception, and specialized seminars in interpersonal behavior

Initiating Networking Offering Approaching Sustaining Smiles, handshakes & introductions Douglas (1987)

Experimenting Searching for common ground “Safe” topics Occurs more rapidly in cyberspace than face-to-face The “audition” stage of relationships Small talk

Intensifying Increased amount of time together Express feelings to discuss the state of the relationship Getting to know friends & family Giving tokens of affection Hinting & flirting Trying to look more attractive

Integrating Take on identity as a social unit (“we”, “us”, “our”) Develop routines and rituals We give up some characteristics of our former selves and become different people Sense of obligation grows More intimacy, less uncertainty, more influence

Bonding Symbolic public gestures Engagement & marriage Signing a business contract A public display of commitment

Differentiating How are we different? How am I unique? The first, inevitable, feelings of stress

Circumscribing Decreases in quality and quantity of communiction Subtle hints of dissatisfaction grow

Stagnating Not much feeling No growth Sense of “same old- same old” without joy or novelty “You’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’”

Avoiding Expressing detatchment Avoiding involvement Showing antagonism Mentally disassociate –(Hess, 2000)

Terminating The type of ending strategy depends on the level of intimacy