The Knapp Model of Relational Development is one of the most influential models of relationships. It decribes the progression and development of interpersonal relationships as a series of 10 stages in two phases of "Coming Together" and "Coming Apart". Today, we'll apply this model to two influential figures in the world music industry, and see just how much can possibly be mapped out with Knapp's model.
Two iconic figures of the music scene who rose to the stage of stardom in recent years, Rihanna and Chris Brown had the right conditions and opportunity to cross paths and come together as two separate individuals who had the common grounds of social validation to strike up a conversation, work together, and get to know each other interpersonally. Stage #1: The rite of Initiation has the perfect socialising arena all set up for the both of them. They probably know each other by name and reputation, and one might be attracted to the other person's style of dressing, sleek dance moves, powerlung vocals or perfume. They screen each as other as possible partner potentials and filters them out from the crowd.
#2 Experimenting: The ice has finally been broken, and we find Chris and Rihanna engaged in a little exclusive dyadic conversation in a stolen corner in the roomful of wild-partying celebrities like themselves. Small talk about the weather, their jobs, grilling managers and psychotic fans leads to some self-disclosure about their personal lives and they begin to "feel each other out", registering the cultural, socialogical and psycological information of the other party in the recesses of thier minds. And HEY! They realise that there is quite a lot of common ground between them which is simply superb! :)
# 3 Intensifying: After a few more episodes of such "coincidental" running and bumping into each other at music recording studios, parties and award-ceremonies, there is a silent stirring in their hearts that cannot seem to be ignored. This feeling grows in intensity with each passing day and exists at the individual's highest realm of awareness. Unaffirmed reiprocity results in a layer of vulnerability that cannot be ignored and seeks to be assuaged. It needs to be let out. It might have been Chris, or it might have been Rihanna, but either one of them would have been the made an overt disclosure of feelings to the other person. "I like you, and i hope you like me too!" :) The good news is, that there'sa two-way street connection between both their hearts, and "i" becomes "we".
#4 Integrating: News travels fast in the papparrazzi world, and news of their coupling burns the newstands as magazines fly off the racks proclaiming to the world of the latest "IT" couple even though they're acting coy about it! Social circles begin to merge, and people cannot help but think of Chris when they mention Rihanna and vice versa. The launched sales of their joint Chris and Rihanna Concert in New Zealand sold out in 20 minutes! And we see how their relationship becomes a social identity as well as a relational one.
#5 Bonding: This stage is defined by the presence of significant public "rituals" that demonstrate the relational commitment that has developed between the partners. Is spite of the fact that Chris is merely 18 years of age, and Rihanna, 20, the couple were seen getting serious enough to go house-hunting in the Los Angeles area, viewing soundproof abodes such as the Beverly Hills Sierra Tower. This (albeit seemingly premature) inclinatory move to cohabit is more than a signal to the outside world about the legitimacy of their relationship, it is also, at some level, a contract between the two of them of their promises and obligations to each other.
#6 Differentiating: This is simply the reaffirmation of individuality and some dgree of differentiation can actually be viewed as natural and healthy because individual needs and identities are crucial to sustain a relationship that doesn't go stale. However, stark differences in priorities, personalities and attitudes could be potential brew for disaster along the way.
#7 Circumscribing: This is marked by a ecrease in both the quantity and quality of communiation between two parters of a relationship. Exchanges delve into the zone of superficiality and boundaries are drawn up and erected. It does not seem probable that Rihanna and Chris went through this particular phase because even at the Clive Davis party at the Beverly Hills Hilton on the Saturday night preceding the tabloid-splash fight, the both of them were reportedly seen looking cozy and happy together.
# 8 Stagnation: This is the stage in which parties of the relationship feel like alienated strangers who are desensitized and numbed to the going-ons in the relationship. There is palpable absence of emotions and interaction usually revolves around a seris of routine scripts that focus on safe topics. The heated fight that broke out between the two has resulted in the decision of Rihanna to dump ex-boyfriend Chris, therefore propelling the relationship past this stage and stage #9 of Avoiding the other party, right straight to the final stage.
#10 Terminating: The end of the relationship is explicitly signaled by Rihanna who though previously considered forgiving Chris and giving their relationship a second shot, has been persuaded by friends and family to put an end to a non-viable relationship. Rihanna has been reported to have really thought that "Chris was the love of her life. But when everyone started to question their relationship, she burst into tears and reluctantly agreed that they were right. She just can’t believe it’s ended this way.”
Rihanna's Domestic Violence Photo leaked out two days ago. Facial injuries of bruised lips, swollen eyes and contusions on the head illustrate the severity of the physical fight that broke out between the couple, constituing a felony of battery against Chris Brown, who has been released on a bail of $50,000.
It is apparent that relationships need not conform to the stages lined up in Knapp's Model of Relational Development because relationships can fluctuate between the stages; regressing to earlier stages, or skipping forward to later stages (as observed in Rihanna and Chris' relationship). Although it is possible to save a relationship from the final stage of development, it is very difficult to “rekindle the fire” that once held the relationship together. I personally feel tha the coming apart stages of the model are not necessarily negative because at times, it might be healthy for two people to terminate their relationship in the interest of personal aspirations and well being. Break-ups are just part and parcel of of quest in search of the right one. :)
