Week 8: Building & Maintaining Relationships
Week 8 Summary
Week Summary
This week, we explored how relationships develop and change over time. We examined Knapp's ten-stage model of relationship development, learned how self-disclosure deepens connections through social penetration, and identified maintenance behaviors that help sustain relationships we value.
Key Takeaways
- 1Relationships progress through predictable stages, though not always linearly
- 2Self-disclosure builds intimacy through gradual, reciprocal sharing of breadth and depth
- 3Relationships require active maintenance - positivity, openness, assurances, networks, and shared tasks
- 4Dialectical tensions are inherent in close relationships and require ongoing management, not resolution
- 5Understanding relationship patterns helps you navigate them more intentionally
Coming Up Next Week
Next week, we'll examine conflict communication - how to handle disagreements constructively. We'll explore different conflict styles, learn to recognize destructive patterns, and practice de-escalation and collaborative problem-solving techniques.