ɐlfˈɑːnz vˈænstiːnwˌɛdʒən ɪz ɐ ɹᵻspˈɛktᵻd ɐθˈɔːɹɪɾi ˌɔn kˈʌpəl dˌɪfɚɹˌɛnʃɪˈeɪʃən, ænd hiː hɐz pɹəpˈoʊzd ðæt ɹᵻlˈeɪʃənʃˌɪps ɪvˈɑːlv θɹuː θɹˈiː stˈeɪdʒᵻz: bˌiːɪŋ ɪn lˈʌv, dˌɪfɚɹˌɛnʃɪˈeɪʃən, ænd tɹˈuː pˈɑːɹtnɚʃˌɪp.
Alfons Vansteenwegen is a respected authority on couple differentiation, and he has proposed that relationships evolve through three stages: being in love, differentiation, and true partnership.