Summary Of Mark Knapp's Relational Model

The alliance between members of the original Tagi tribe has been picking off contestants of Survivor since before the merger. The alliance is made up of Susan, Rudy, Kelly, and Richard, who has been the facilitator throughout the episodes. Susan, although not a leader, has become a big influence in the game. Knapp’s relational stages model and transactional analysis are great ways to see how the interactions between Richard and Susan have impacted the alliance that has lasted to the end of the season. Developed by Mark Knapp, the 10 step relationship model details the “coming together” and “coming apart” steps of every relationship. Knapp metaphorically presented it as “a dual staircase upon which relationships ascend, descend and stabilize”
Everyone leaves to do their own thing and Susan, acting as the nurturing parent ego, was supportive of Richard and trying to make him feel better. Richard, acting as the adult ego, needed another adult to have a logical discussion with, instead of the comfort he got from Susan. According to Martin (2011), the nurturing parent offers advice, protects and nurtures, while the adult focuses on the ‘here and now’. Although their actions match their egos, adult-parent is not a common interaction which might have something to do with why this transaction did nothing to bring them closer
Behavioral and social messages are apparent between our survivor duo, while historical and phenomenological messages are not. Richard is often acting in the adult ego during his interactions with Susan in their personal interactions and when discussing the alliance, this is an example of consistant behavioral messages. Susan, on the other hand, has been seen in child and parent roles. During the immunity challenge in episode 3, Quest for Food, we see Susan acting in the adult ego. The team had to build a stretcher, find and carry Kelly though the jungle in a race against Pagong. The conversation between Susan, acting as an adult, and Richard, acting as an adult was brief on camera but we hear Susan calling out directions to Richard and him responding during the rush. As the team reaches the end, the two of them are in the front leading the group together. From his actions we can conclude Richard’s social messages reflect that of an adult ego, he “is concerned with identifying problems, analysing them and generating rational solutions” (Martin, 2011, p.