How relationships move from beginning to end

1. Stages of Relationships
Interpersonal Communication Comm 110
Dr. Marquita L. Byrd
Communication Studies Department
San Jose State University
marquita.byrd@ sjsu.edu

2. Relationships
Social Scientists tell us that
• Relationships move through stages
• Stages indicate levels of intimacy in the
relationship
• The stages happen in all types of relationships
from friends, family, work, to romantic
• Stages can be an indicator of behaviors, values
and communication in the relationship

3. Significance of this finding
Provides an organizational pattern that facilitates the
discussion of relationships in an orderly fashion and a way to
organize the concepts inherent in interpersonal relationships.
• Self-disclosure, emotions, listening, self concept, trust, ethics,
social penetration
, all of these phenomenon change through
these stages.
Contact
Involvement
Deterioration
Dissolution
Intimacy

4. Model of Relational Movement
Contact
Exit
Phase including first meetings,
Engage in phatic communication
Determine if you think the person is likable, trustworthy, good,
bad, etc
Be able to recognize the person, distinguish from others
Decide whether or not you want to devote time to getting to
know them better
Contact

5. Dating Stage/Structured Activities
Not Gender Related
Exit
Involvement
Spend time together
Planned activities
Exploration of common ground
Experiment with topics, behaviors
Liking may increase or decrease
Self disclosure, trust, self esteem may all change during
involvement

6. Marriage stage
Exit
Intimacy
Pair become a unit/ high bonding
Willing to sacrifice for the relationship
High trust
Reliability
Unconditional acceptance and love
Respect
Commitment
High communication levels
Explain the behavior of others
Predict behavior of other

7. Falling Apart/Loss of Cohesion
Exit
Deterioration
Bonds begin to weaken
More conflict
Less communication
Less trust, liking, disclosure
Intrapersonal then interpersonal conflict
Many reasons, change in context and people, goals change
Put distance in relationship

8. Choices at Deterioration
Repair
Renegotiate
Take no Action
RE_

9. Divorce
Exit
Dissolution
No longer a unit
Bonds broken
Little or no communication
Giving thing back
Grave dressing
Grieving (even if the relationship is bad)

10. Exit
Exit
Exit
Exit
Contact
Involvement
Intimacy
Deterioration
Dissolution
Exit
Involvement
Stages
of
Communication