In Comms class, we learn how to maintain relationships and the 10 stages of relationships too.  The Knapp Model of Relational Development are the 10 stages which are Initiating, Experimenting, Intensifying, Integrating, Bonding, Differentiating, Circumscribing, Stagnation,  Avoiding and Terminating.  Stages 1 to 5 are the coming together in a relationship.  Stages 6 to  10 are the coming apart in a  relationship.  All these stages are applied to daily life as well.  In fact, i myself have gone through these stages in my life. It gets more hurting when the relationship comes to the 6th stage onwards.

There are 3 processes on relational maintenance. They are Self disclosure, Conflict and Relational needs. Self disclosure is sharing of information about self that the other party is unlikely to know about.
Conflict occurs due to differences in perception. However at times conflicts between couples helps to strengthen the relationship by understanding each other more.  Relational needs is to identify the short term and long term individual and joint needs and determine how to realize any unmet needs.

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