Overview
Relationship Development is something that everyone has to go through. Whether it is starting out a romantic relationship, or starting out a new friendship, everyone has to take some sort of action to have that relationship progress. Those actions may be positive or negative and will have a lasting impression on the outcome of the relationship.
Throughout the website, I explained 2 models in which researchers look at how relationships develop. Stage models, and the turning point approach. Each one different in there own, but used to identify the same thing.
In the stage model, each layer is determined by the amount of a certain communication that happens. Whether it is first small talk, or deep self-disclosure will determine what stage you are at in the relationship. Things to remember are that movement from stage to stage is systematic. It doesn't matter how slow or fast it is, but it must move either forward or backward to a new stage.
Looking at Turning Point Approach, deals all with turning points in a relationship. Turning points are events or occurrences that effect a change in a certain relationship. These events are only the big changes that stick out in the minds of the two individuals that the turning point happened too. This to remember are that the turning point approach is very choppy. A lot of positive and negative events that affect the course of the relationship and how up and down it really is.
Finally to sum it all up, remember that listening and self-disclosure are the main ingredients to relationship development. Listening has many different types and are all used to reduce uncertainty with someone. Also, remember the Social Penetration Theory, by Altman and Taylor. This will help you understand how and why it is important to reduce uncertainty and how that takes place.
On the next page, you will find a practice section that will further help explain the contents of the website.
Throughout the website, I explained 2 models in which researchers look at how relationships develop. Stage models, and the turning point approach. Each one different in there own, but used to identify the same thing.
In the stage model, each layer is determined by the amount of a certain communication that happens. Whether it is first small talk, or deep self-disclosure will determine what stage you are at in the relationship. Things to remember are that movement from stage to stage is systematic. It doesn't matter how slow or fast it is, but it must move either forward or backward to a new stage.
Looking at Turning Point Approach, deals all with turning points in a relationship. Turning points are events or occurrences that effect a change in a certain relationship. These events are only the big changes that stick out in the minds of the two individuals that the turning point happened too. This to remember are that the turning point approach is very choppy. A lot of positive and negative events that affect the course of the relationship and how up and down it really is.
Finally to sum it all up, remember that listening and self-disclosure are the main ingredients to relationship development. Listening has many different types and are all used to reduce uncertainty with someone. Also, remember the Social Penetration Theory, by Altman and Taylor. This will help you understand how and why it is important to reduce uncertainty and how that takes place.
On the next page, you will find a practice section that will further help explain the contents of the website.