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Knapp's Relational Model

 Knapp's Relational Model


For the purpose of this post I decided to analyze my relationship with one of my oldest friends. We grew up together, so the initiating phase of our relationship is something that I don't even remember -- our parents were friends so we were friends, basically since before I could talk. Most of my childhood we grew up in the same city and saw each other on a regular basis. My family ended up moving away right before I started high school and we were forced into the stagnation phase of Knapp's model.
Source: https://www.communicationtheory.org/knapps-relationship-model/


Since then we've fluctuated around the middle, re-integrating at points, bonding over new things, but never really differentiating. I think that this will be a lifelong friendship and I can't imagine a day where I don't feel comfortable picking up the phone and text or calling him. Online communication has allowed our relationship to remain healthy and active. We share a love of sports and are constantly texting throughout games that we are watching in different places but it feels like we're together. Maybe it's naïve, but I think even when people grow apart, there's still ways of coming together. I have many relationships at this point in my life with people who don't live near me, but we still maintain active and healthy relationships through relational maintenance.

I also found an interesting video from Seattle Central College that breaks down and gives a more in-depth look at Knapp's Relational Model -- it's an interesting watch if anyone wants to take a look.



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