Tv Show Analysis
Blake Miller
3/26/13
Writing Assignment #3
Everyone experiences multiple romantic relationships throughout their life. Some are great and others are down right awful. There are many factors that determine the experience of the relationship for both parties and ultimately romantic relationships work best when people are at the same stages of relationship growth as their partner. The romantic relationship I want to talk about is my relationship with my girlfriend Alex of 4 years. We started dating when we were in high school and then continued into college. We have only taken a break from our relationship once for about 2 months but besides that have always done long distance with semi frequent trips in between major school breaks. All of which has strengthened and formed our bond into the amazing relationship we have today. Most relationships begin and end in similar ways however some move faster than others and skip important steps that are vital for a healthy relationship and this is why Knapp’s Model of Relational Development is a good guideline for starting a relationship. Alex and I began dating in January of my senior year, however, this is not when our relationship began according to Knapp’s Model of Relational Development. The first stage of Knapp’s Model is the initiating stage. For Alex and I this stage occurred when our younger brothers became friends and her family invited my family over for dinner. It was my first time officially meeting her even though I knew who she was from school. Throughout the dinner the two of us talked and did dishes together but acted as friends getting to know each other. However, my interest in her had begun but she had a different boyfriend at the time. The next stage of Knapp’s Model is the experimenting stage. “…the process of experimenting is trying to discover the unknown” (BB2 pg. 5). This is the stage where people try to learn about the other and find some common interests or hobbies. For Alex and I this was
3/26/13
Writing Assignment #3
Everyone experiences multiple romantic relationships throughout their life. Some are great and others are down right awful. There are many factors that determine the experience of the relationship for both parties and ultimately romantic relationships work best when people are at the same stages of relationship growth as their partner. The romantic relationship I want to talk about is my relationship with my girlfriend Alex of 4 years. We started dating when we were in high school and then continued into college. We have only taken a break from our relationship once for about 2 months but besides that have always done long distance with semi frequent trips in between major school breaks. All of which has strengthened and formed our bond into the amazing relationship we have today. Most relationships begin and end in similar ways however some move faster than others and skip important steps that are vital for a healthy relationship and this is why Knapp’s Model of Relational Development is a good guideline for starting a relationship. Alex and I began dating in January of my senior year, however, this is not when our relationship began according to Knapp’s Model of Relational Development. The first stage of Knapp’s Model is the initiating stage. For Alex and I this stage occurred when our younger brothers became friends and her family invited my family over for dinner. It was my first time officially meeting her even though I knew who she was from school. Throughout the dinner the two of us talked and did dishes together but acted as friends getting to know each other. However, my interest in her had begun but she had a different boyfriend at the time. The next stage of Knapp’s Model is the experimenting stage. “…the process of experimenting is trying to discover the unknown” (BB2 pg. 5). This is the stage where people try to learn about the other and find some common interests or hobbies. For Alex and I this was