Knapp's Relational Model

I have a dear friend, also named Matt, that I have been friends with for about 10 years. Today we share a symmetrical relationship that is still developing in Knapp’s bonding stage, though there has been significant differentiation over the years. Interestingly, something quite unique for our relationship, it is largely the differentiation between us that keeps us in the bonding stage. Similarly, it is the incredible symmetry between us that makes the differentiation valuable, almost as if the differences were a currency in our interpersonal communication. And because we both have families, academic pursuits, and careers, online communication has become a staple for our interpersonal communications.

Without online communication Matt and I would almost certainly have regressed into Knapp’s stagnating stage long ago. We’re just too busy, our schedules might allow one in-persona visit every month or two. Under such circumstances there is no time for relationship maintenance, let alone building after the initiation stage. 

 

Consequently, asynchronous communication through email has allowed us to develop a unique relationship to us both; we amass topics, ideas, or theories, and send them to each other spontaneously with the understanding that there probably will not be a response. The responses are largely saved for our in-person meetings in which we tease apart the nuances of our differences. While this format for a relationship is unique to both of us, we have both noted how valuable it is to each of us. Additionally, the value of our relationship has manifests perfectly to Knapp’s theory, as we have enjoyed countless dinners, concerts, and other public events together. And true to both the Media Multiplicity and Knapp’s theories, our relationship is maintained and enhanced through online communication. It is true that the initiating-through-integrating stages for Matt and I took place in person, but the sharing of email addresses that enhanced our relationship to its current value.