FOUR STAGES OF A RELATIONSHIP

COOPERATIVE

o MUTUAL COMMITMENT TO MEET OTHER PERSONS NEEDS

o MORE EMPHASIS ON OTHER PERSON THAN SELF

o MUTUAL TRUST AND RESPECT

o MUTUAL USE OF GIFTS, SKILLS, AND CREATIVITY

o JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS

o PRODUCTIVITY IN THE RELATIONSHIP

o PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO RELATIONSHIP

o CONTINUED STRENGTHENING OF THE RELATIONSHIP

RETALIATORY

o ATTEMPTS TO MAKE PARTNER CONFORM TO WHAT WE WANT

o AGGRESSIVE ACTION TOWARD PARTNER

o VIEW PARTNER AS OBSTACLE IN OUR WAY NOT PERSON WITH NEEDS

o STRUGGLE FOR DOMINATION

o CONTINUAL CONFLICT

o AN EVENTUAL WINNER-LOOSER PATTERN BEGINS

DOMINATION

o LOSER CONTROLLED BY WINNER

o LOSERS PERSONALITY IS SUFFOCATED

o MUTUAL LOSS OF RESPECT

o LOSERS CREATIVITY AND SKILLS NOT USED

o LOSER RESORTS TO MANIPULATION

o LOSER EVENTUALLY CONCLUDES THAT THE SITUATION IS HOPELESS

o LOSER QUITS TRYING TO GET THEIR NEEDS MET

ISOLATION

o OTHER PERSON IS MENTALLY BLOCKED OUT

o COMMUNICATION IS STOPPED

o MUTUAL MISTRUST

o NEEDS ARE NOT MET

o MUTUAL UNCONCERN

o PRODUCTIVITY DECREASED IN BOTH

o SITUATION SEEMS HOPELESS

o LOSER DEVELOPS A CLOSED SPIRIT

o RELATIONSHIP IS TERMINATED