Explain the stages of a declining relationship.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

When one or both partners fail to engage actively in relational maintenance strategies, the relationship may begin to come apart and could eventually end altogether.
Relationships between acquaintances, casual friends, co-workers, and neighbors are more likely to end than highly developed ones. The communication in declining relationships is marked by four stages: circumscribing, stagnating, avoiding, and terminating.
I. Circumscribing: The first sign that a relationship is coming apart is known as the circumscribing stage, which is where communication decreases in both quantity and quality. Rather than discuss a disagreement, for example, both parties ignore it outwardly even if it troubles them inside.
II. Stagnating: If circumscribing continues, it may eventually lead to the stagnating stage. Stagnating stage refers to the relationship stage during which partners just go through the motions of interacting with each other routinely without enthusiasm or emotion.
III. Avoiding: When a relationship that has stagnated becomes too painful, partners move into the avoiding stage by creating physical distance between themselves and making excuses not to do things together. The overriding tone is usually not marked by hostility but by indifference.
IV. Terminating: Not all relationships end. Terminating stage refers to the relationship stage in which partners no longer interact with each other. People give many reasons for terminating relationships, including poor communication, lack of fulfillment, differing lifestyles and interests, rejection, outside interference, absence of rewards, and boredom. These attempts to explain why the relationship failed are called grave-dressing.
Unfortunately, partners sometimes look for reasons to blame each other rather than trying to find equitable ways of bringing the relationship to an acceptable conclusion. Withdrawal and avoidance, also unsuitable strategies, are passive approaches that lead to the slow and often painful death of the relationship. The most competent way to end a relationship is to be direct, open, and honest. If two people have had a satisfying and close relationship, they owe it to themselves and to each other to be forthright and fair about terminating.
Even when partners agree that their relationship in its current form is over, they may continue to interact and influence each other through a different type of relationship. This is called relationship transformation. Romantic relationships may transform into friendships, best friends may become casual friends, and even marriages may continue on friendly terms or as a type of business relationship where child-rearing practices and expenses are coordinated.