User:Chelsea.nakayama/Knapp's relational development model/Bibliography

Knapp's relational development model in the modern world
Knapp’s relational stage model was created in 1978. This was well before the way we communicate became so heavily based on technology. The stages form a model of relationship development as well as dissolution. This applies to both romantic and platonic relationships the five stages of coming together are initiating, experimenting, intensifying, integrating, and finally bonding. In the initiating phase people tend to try to “size each other up” to decide whether to initiate a relationship and how to start communicating. In the second stage, experimenting, the two individuals try to learn more about each other. They try to determine if they have anything in common and decide if they want to pursue a relationship. If both parties decide to go to the intensifying step, they will start to exhibit more self-disclosure and start to have verbal shortcuts and more expressions of commitment. In the next stage, integrating, social circles start to merge, and they may exchange symbols of their relationship or own property together. If the relationship makes through the integrating stage, then it will enter the bonding stage. This stage is where their commitment will become formally announced to the world. This is usually in the form of engagement or marriage. (Duran & Kelley, 2017)

Social networking has changed the way the steps in Knapp’s model are processed. Facebook, for example, allows one to find out details about someone you are interested in without even having to have a conversation. Romantic relationship status can easily be found through a quick search of social media. The initiation phase no longer requires taking a chance by asking directly what the relationship status is. Facebook also functions as a convenient way to pursue someone while not having to put yourself in too far out on a limb   The pursuer can interact with the target by liking or commenting on posts or by tagging them on posts. Because of the lack of intimacy involved when using SNS this method is often preferred over phone calls. Using computer mediated communication also allows the pursuer the time to think about what they want to say and how they want to say it. (FOX and Werber, 2013)

Facebook profiles provide information about an individual, such as education level, religion, interests, as well as photos. This immediate information can influence the trajectory of the relationship. While most relationships are initiated off-line, the participants often turn to Facebook to communicate. In Knapp’s second theme, experimenting, Facebook provides a lot of information on interests, activities, and information. This serves as a way to talk about interests that are shared as well as ways to learn about interests the other has. The final theme is making the relationship “Facebook Official” by sharing photos to each other’s pages as well as changing the relationship status on the profile page. This is part of the integrating phase. (Mansson & Myers, 2011)

Using social networking sites are used by over 900 million users worldwide, and the average college student uses Facebook an average of 1-2 hours per day. (FOX and Werber, 2013)).  Men and women see romantic relationships differently and have different goals when pursuing relationships.  Women are more likely to advertise their relationship through the use of social media sites than their male counterparts.  They will also have different views on what it means to be “Facebook” official.