From the first look that results in butterflies in your stomach to sitting together in your pyjamas and watching Netflix, a romantic relationship goes through its stages of development.
Relationship development definition is when you want to build up a connection through repetitive interaction. This connection can develop into a friendship, a professional relationship or a romantic relationship. But this connection can only be built through reciprocation.
It cannot happen that one person takes all the initiative and the other sits back and just want the relationship to work. Then it would remain a one-sided relationship that would eventually fizzle out.
In fact, one goes through steps in a relationship sexually too. You just don’t develop sexual intimacy in the very beginning. You have to have emotional intimacy first before you can have a sexually satisfying relationship and that also comes at a particular stage of the relationship.
Good? Bad? Only time will tell.
The relationship development stages are important for they make or break a couple. These stages are more like hoops you have to jump through via trials and tribulations.
Let’s start at the beginning, shall we?
As your relationship goes through stages you also have to see how your partner is handling the relationship as you take it to the next level. Relationship Counsellor Aman Bhonsle says this is when you need to watch out for relationship red flags that can prove to be deal breakers.
A red flag is also a dead giveaway that the person lacks manners, empathy and kindness that would have an impact on your relationship with him. “Red flags in a relationship with a man are often ignored by women because they want to look at the bigger picture that could include success, riches, looks and his Page 3 network. But the red flags can be deal-breakers in a relationship and if ignored could lead to serious consequences.”
12 Stages Of Relationship Development
Here are the 12 stages of relationship development every relationship goes through at some point or the other.
1. First glance/meet-cute
This is bound to be cute. Girl drops books, the boy picks them up, girl giggles at the boy’s joke and BAM! They like each other.
This meet-cute scenario is not with every couple though. You might have been friends first and have fallen for each other after years or months.
You might look at your friend differently and consider them as a viable candidate for a romantic relationship. This stepping away from friendship to gravitate towards a more-than-friendly relationship is common. This is the first stage of romantic relationship development.
