Acquaintance and acquaintanceship – Becoming acquainted depends on previous relationships, physical proximity, first impressions, and a variety of other factors. If two people begin to like each other, continued interactions may lead to the next stage, but acquaintance can continue indefinitely. Another example is the association. Buildup – During this stage, people begin to trust and care about each other. The need for intimacy, compatibility and such filtering agents as common background and goals will influence whether or not interaction continues. Continuation – This stage follows a mutual commitment to quite a strong and close long-term friendship, romantic relationship, or even marriage. It is generally a long, relatively stable period. Nevertheless, continued growth and development will occur during this time. Mutual trust is important for sustaining the relationship. Deterioration – Not all relationships deteriorate, but those that do tend to show signs of trouble. Boredom, resentment, and dissatisfaction may occur, and individuals may communicate less and avoid self-disclosure. Loss of trust and betrayals may take place as the downward spiral continues, eventually ending the relationship. (Alternately, the participants may find some way to resolve the problems and reestablish trust and belief in others.) Ending – The final stage marks the end of the relationship, either by breakups, death or by spatial separation for quite some time and severing all existing ties of either friendship or romantic love.
acquaintANCE anD ACquaiNtanceshIp – bEcoMINg AcqUAiNTeD dePenDS On previOUs rElaTionShIPS, physicaL proXimiTy, First impResSioNs, AnD A VARIETy OF oTher factors. if twO pEOPle begIn to LiKe each other, contInueD iNTeractioNs maY LeaD tO thE neXT sTage, but acqUainTancE cAN conTinuE iNdeFiNiteLy. AnoTheR examplE iS tHe association. bUILDUp – durinG tHis stagE, pEopLe bEgin to trUSt And cARE aBoUt eACH Other. the need For intimacy, compatibilitY and Such filtering aGEntS AS CoMmon bAckgRoUnd and GOals wILl INfluEncE WhEtHeR or NOt iNTeRActIOn cOntINUEs. contInuaTIon – ThiS sTaGe follows a mutuAl commitmEnt to quitE a stroNG aND clOsE LonG-term FrIenDShIp, rOMANtiC relAtionsHiP, or EVEn MArrIAgE. iT IS generaLlY a loNg, rElaTIVeLy StabLe Period. nevErTHeless, conTINUed GrowtH and DeveLopmeNT Will occUR duRIng This TimE. mutuAL tRust is impOrtaNt FoR suStAIning tHe rElAtIonsHip. dEteRioRAtion – nOt all ReLatIonshiPs deTEriorAte, but tHOse tHat dO tend to Show sigNs oF trOubLe. bOREDom, rESentment, And DIsSatisfaction May ocCur, aNd iNdividuAlS mAY commuNicatE less and AVoId self-diSclosure. lOss of trust and betraYals mAy Take plACe As the downwarD spIraL conTiNueS, eVEnTually endinG the RelatIonSHip. (ALterNatELy, The particIpANts may finD sOmE wAy To resolve THe pRobleMs aNd reEstabliSh tRuSt anD bElIef In Others.) EndiNg – the final StaGe mARks THe eNd oF The RelAtionsHip, either by BreaKUps, deAth or by sPAtiAL separation For qUite Some timE and SeveRinG all exIStinG ties of eITher fRiendship Or roMantic lOVE.