Knapp's Relational Development Theory

Improved Essays
C.J. Shelton
COMM 1300/ (MWF 10 a.m.)
Teri Colaianni
Introduction:
Miscommunication is one of the leading factors to why relationships are not as healthy as it could be. The truth is we often miscommunicate with each other quite more frequently than we notice. I myself have experienced many unhealthy relationships with friends, family, significant others, co-workers, and etc. I want to focus on my last relationship although, and that was with a significant other. By using the Knapp’s stages of relational development theory, I can begin to analyze how communication lead to an automatic downfall for my significant other and I. Throughout this paper I will analysis the relationship problems, recommend how to fix the problems with Knapp’s stages
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Coming together is communication that brings the relationship together, and coming apart is communication that divides the relationship apart. Coming together language is, initiating making first contact with someone, experimenting getting to know someone, intensifying talking more deeply, integrating romantic bond, and bonding form of commitment. Coming apart language is, differentiating thinking individually, circumscribing lack of communicating, stagnating things remain the same, avoiding not wanting to see each other, and terminating is to end …show more content…
Arguments occur in almost all relationships and my relationship was not immune to the problem. Whenever we had a argument I would try to disconnect myself from the situation, because it made myself feel better. Little did I know I was differentiating, thinking individually about the relationship. This started to slowly divide the relationship and I didn’t even notice it at the time. As, the relationship continued, I started to notice Halie would communicate with me less in other words circumscribe. I would ask what's wrong with her, and she would say nothing I’ll try to do better, but things remained exactly the same very stagnant. Every time we would try to make plans with each other, we just couldn’t make time to hangout. Both of us was avoiding each other like we just didn’t want to see each other anymore. I started to see how the relationship was getting very unhealthy, and I made the decision to terminate the relationship.
Recommendation:
After taking some time off, and really thinking about what made the relationship unhealthy. I noticed that the relationship started going south when I decided to disconnect myself from the argument. I should have just approached the conflict differently than I did. What I did really upsetted Halie, and I feel like she thought I didn’t care about her as much as I said I did. My communication with Halie was bring us apart. Since my past relationship, I made it my goal to

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