Knapp's Relational Model

 

(https://www.communicationtheory.org/knapps-relationship-model/)

    Knapp's Relationship model goes through several stages of  relationships from introductions to termination. I have social anxiety so I feel that some of these stages look different for me. You can learn more about social anxiety here. I don't really have any friends and most of my relationships remain in the initiation stage, especially recently since I have been travelling and moving around. Many times I will meet someone at a bar or restaurant and we will strike up a conversation. Sometimes if I truly enjoyed the conversation I will offer my social media. However, I have noticed that I will receive a few likes on my posts from that person but a conversation never really picks up again. I feel that with social media I can see most of what's going on in their lives (at least what they want to display) and they can see what's going on in mine. I would love to get to the integration stage with someone at some point. I know I would have to work hard to achieve this because many people perceive my social anxiety as standoffish and that I don't care about the relationship.