Knapp’s Relational

Development Theory

What is it?

Explains in five steps how two people’s lives merge…

And in five steps, separates.

Who uses it?

Everyonewhohas…

Made a friend…

Fell in love…

Or has even been introduced to someone before.

Almost everyone on earth has been through at least one step in the process of relationship

development…

More specifically people trying to improve their business relationship use this model to better

predict relationship outcomes.

So what?

The relationship development process is used today to give businesses insight into how

customer service can be made better.

Businesses also use it to gain insight into customer relations via social media.

Criticisms?

Some flack that this study has taken comes from those who say that all relationships develop

differently.

Where there wrong is that they overlook the similarities between relationship development.

What should you know?

Knapp’s model helps people predict the outcome of a relationship.

If a relationship stops advancing through the process of “coming together”…

then prepare for heartbreak.

Or at least a lost client at work.

Thanks to Mark Knapp, you at least know it’s coming.