Mark Knapp (Glavin 152) states that relationships go through ten stages, five stages of development and five stages of decline. The model helps map out the growth and progress in interpersonal relationships. One part of the model is the five stages of coming together or escalation model The second part of the model is the five stages of coming apart or termination model ((Fox, Warber and Makstaller 2013). Using the escalation model I will explain the development of the interpersonal relationship between Roland and I. Roland and I have been dating for five years and our relationship has gone through multiple stages of the escalation model. Through analyses of the stages of relationship development I will to identify the different stages and
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Roland disclosed is battle with ADHD throughout our school and how he was being affected by it in college. Him disclosing this information to made me feel that he was opening open to me. The text states that vulnerability is important to the development of a deeper committed relationship (Galvin, pg155). When he shared with me his fears about marriage because of his parents divorce I understood that he was disclosing that information so that we could discuss his fears before becoming more intimate. Our commitment to each other was expressed through favors, verbal expressions, gifts and touch. For example Roland and I started to talk discuss things and make decisions concerning US as a couple. In this stage individuals will deiced if they want to start dating or not. In this stage Roland I would hold hands walking to class and cuddle in my dorm room. This showed me that Roland wanted to intensify the intimacy of our relationship. The first time Roland held my hand he asked if it was okay and I told him of course. Touching during the intensifying stage can open the door for deeper physical interaction. Burgoon (1991) states that people tend to assign interpretations such as affection, commitment, control, intimacy, and sexual interest to touch behavior to interpersonal touching. Even though Roland asked to hold my hand or kiss me in the beginning, eventually he was comfortable enough touch me without caution. In the experimenting stage the interaction was more casual between Roland and I. So he would call me Davonne in most cases. During the intensifying stage couples tend to refer to each other in first person pronouns for example, we began to refer to one another as “Honey” or “My love” (Glavin,
Roland disclosed is battle with ADHD throughout our school and how he was being affected by it in college. Him disclosing this information to made me feel that he was opening open to me. The text states that vulnerability is important to the development of a deeper committed relationship (Galvin, pg155). When he shared with me his fears about marriage because of his parents divorce I understood that he was disclosing that information so that we could discuss his fears before becoming more intimate. Our commitment to each other was expressed through favors, verbal expressions, gifts and touch. For example Roland and I started to talk discuss things and make decisions concerning US as a couple. In this stage individuals will deiced if they want to start dating or not. In this stage Roland I would hold hands walking to class and cuddle in my dorm room. This showed me that Roland wanted to intensify the intimacy of our relationship. The first time Roland held my hand he asked if it was okay and I told him of course. Touching during the intensifying stage can open the door for deeper physical interaction. Burgoon (1991) states that people tend to assign interpretations such as affection, commitment, control, intimacy, and sexual interest to touch behavior to interpersonal touching. Even though Roland asked to hold my hand or kiss me in the beginning, eventually he was comfortable enough touch me without caution. In the experimenting stage the interaction was more casual between Roland and I. So he would call me Davonne in most cases. During the intensifying stage couples tend to refer to each other in first person pronouns for example, we began to refer to one another as “Honey” or “My love” (Glavin,