Interpersonal Friendship Analysis

Objective: To understand the six stages of friendship as well as being able to identify communication skills to improve interpersonal relationships.  

You will analyze a current relationship you have with a friend and write a 2-3 page double spaced paper about this relationship discussing the Six Stages Model of Friendship Development by Rawlins (See pages 126-127 in the eBook to cover the six stage model of friendship by Rawlins), Please include how you and your friend employ self-disclosure (Pages 124-126), your motivations for initiating this friendship (pages 132-133), and possibilities for improvement in the relationship (pages 124-126,136-138, 140-141). This will be a socially sustainable project.

Criteria: Your analysis should meet the following criteria. Your papers is to be typed, double-spaced, written in essay format, include the eight specified Paragraph headings below in bold, and is to be two to three pages in length (14 point font). Your paper is to be free of any major typographical and grammatical errors. Paper should include a heading with your first and last name, the course number and section, and date.  PLEASE USE SPELL AND GRAMMAR CHECK! (15 pts) Look at my example.

You will need 8 paragraphs including the headings below in bold: 

1. Introduction: Possibly including your motivations for this friendship. Please discuss your feelings about this relationship. (15 pts)

2. Stage 1: Role-limited interaction: (15 pts)

3. Stage 2: Friendly relations: (15 pts)

4. Stage 3: Moving toward friendship: (15 pts)

5. Stage 4: Nascent (new) friendship: (15 pts)

6. Stage 5: Stabilized Friendship: (15 pts)

7. Stage 6: Waning friendship (If this occurred): (10 pts)

8. Conclusion: This needs to include possibilities for improvement to the relationship. Please also pick and discuss how you used at least three of the following communication skills or concepts as you developed this relationship; forgiveness, collaboration, praise, I-messages, active listening, empathic listening, self-disclosure, affection, bargaining, praise, supportive climate, trust, and validation of feelings. Would you like to change or improve anything about this relationship? 

Do you have any new insights about this relationship after writing this paper? (35 pts)

 

Interpersonal Friendship Analysis

Introduction

Human relationships are an important aspect of a meaningful existence. Friendship relationships especially are avenues for experiencing happiness, adventure, and learning, and they are beneficial in meeting needs for affection, belonging, and social support (Hojjat et al., 2017, p. 196). Such relationships, however, do not just happen but are deliberately developed over time. This paper analyzes the growth of a current friendship relationship in my life using the Six Stages Model of Friendship Development by Rawlins. This friendship has grown to be very dear to me, and I feel that my friend loves and accepts me for who I am. We have both shared memorable moments over the years that have brought us closer.

Stage 1: Role-limited interaction

My friend and I met at a conference outside town. Before this conference, we did not know one another, and the friend was among a group with whom we shared accommodation. Our initial interaction was not that intensive, and it was marked with the usual polite greetings, standard personal introductions, and light exchanges on the progress of the conference. None of us expected that our interaction had any potential of growing into a friendship. 

Stage 2: Friendly relations

On the second day at the conference, I learned that my friend had carried along with a traditional musical instrument and played it in the evening. My interest was picked, and I decided to pass by and have a listen. Several other people joined the group, and our conversations increasingly became casual and full of fun and laughter. My interest in learning how to play the instrument brought my friend and me closer. We were now talking about the specifics of the conference and commenting about issues in the public domain. However, the level of self-disclosure was very minimal since the conversations were happening in the context of a group discussion.

Stage 3: Moving toward friendship

Our relationship progressed into a friendship when we later met at a learning institution. Unknowingly to the other, each applied for a program of choice, and we met during the admission day. We were openly glad to meet once again. We exchanged contacts and agreed to catch up once we got settled at the institution. As we met severally over coffee or dinner, our level of self-disclosure improved. We talked about each other's backgrounds, values, academic goals, and life aspirations.

Stage 4: Nascent (new) friendship

As time progressed, we each came to recognize each other as friends. The formality that had initially characterized how we set our meetings gave way to spontaneity. We even enjoyed impromptu drop-ins at one another's rooms. We increasingly felt that we knew each other. The increased level of trust in our relationship made it possible to share personal details without fear. We together joined a student society that was involved in community activities that we shared an interest in. At some point, we were elected as members of the leadership of the society. The experience of sharing responsibilities to achieve a shared goal further cemented our friendship.

Stage 5: Stabilized Friendship

My friend and I have shared in each other's life journey, and a strong bond has grown over time. We easily accommodate changes in each other's lives and are ready to offer each other any support at our disposal. Many of the friends we have each made along the way have also found it easy to be incorporated into our friendship. Although we presently live and work in different towns, our friendship is still one of my most important relationships. Ours is an active stabilized friendship in which we share the responsibility of being accessible and available to one another ("Stages and types of friendships," 2021). We enjoy the long catch-up conversations over the phone and occasionally visit one another.

Stage 6: Waning friendship

My friend and I appreciate that life involves many changes in personal or family circumstances, careers, and interests. We have felt the tension in our friendship at such moments. In such instances, the trust we have in each other and the commitment to care for one another have helped us maintain our friendship. We, therefore, foresee our friendship withstanding every challenge to grow deeper and more meaningful as time passes.

Conclusion

Our friendship has changed our lives. It is impossible to think of life without the stability it offers. We are both excited to explore creative ways to grow our relationship more. We have thought of planning on settling close to one another if our life circumstances allow. But even if that fails, we have committed ourselves to make time for each other for phone calls, visiting, life events, fun activities, and planned retreats together with friends and families. We are confident that the relational skills we have learned along the way will come in handy as we deepen our friendship. These include maintaining trust, forgiveness, and self-disclosure. Our friendship has been built on mutual trust. We have grown to respect each other and to hold what we share with the utmost confidentiality. When we wrong each other, the readiness to forgive has helped us build a strong bond. Self-disclosure allows us to freely express our hopes, fears, feelings, and thoughts to one another. It is our trust that this friendship will keep on thriving. In the course of writing this paper, I have appreciated the journey that our friendship has taken. It has taken much personal investment for us to reach the stabilized friendship stage. I have also learned that without continuing efforts, the friendship will break down. I have therefore committed myself to care for it more.

Outline

Title: Interpersonal Friendship Analysis

Thesis: This paper analyzes the growth of a current friendship relationship in my life using the Six Stages Model of Friendship Development by Rawlins

1. Introduction
   1. Friendship relationships especially are avenues for experiencing happiness, adventure, and learning, and they are beneficial in meeting needs for affection, belonging, and social support.
   2. Thesis
2. Role-limited interaction
   1. My friend and I met at a conference outside town.
      1. Our initial interaction was not that intensive, and it was marked with the usual polite greetings, standard personal introductions, and light exchanges on the progress of the conference.
3. Friendly relations
   1. On the second day at the conference, I learned that my friend had carried along with a traditional musical instrument and played it in the evening.
      1. My interest in learning how to play the instrument brought my friend and me closer.
      2. However, the level of self-disclosure was very minimal since the conversations were happening in the context of a group discussion.
4. Moving toward friendship
   1. Our relationship progressed into a friendship when we later met at a learning institution.
      1. Unknowingly to the other, each applied for a program of choice, and we met during the admission day.
      2. As we met severally over coffee or dinner, our level of self-disclosure improved. We talked about each other's backgrounds, values, academic goals, and life aspirations.
5. Nascent friendship
   1. As time progressed, we each came to recognize each other as friends.
   2. The formality that had initially characterized how we set our meetings gave way to spontaneity.
      1. We even enjoyed impromptu drop-ins at one another's rooms. We increasingly felt that we knew each other.
   3. The increased level of trust in our relationship made it possible to share personal details without fear.
   4. We together joined a student society that was involved in community activities that we shared an interest in.
      1. The experience of sharing responsibilities to achieve a shared goal further cemented our friendship
6. Stabilized Friendship
   1. My friend and I have shared in each other's life journey, and a strong bond has grown over time.
   2. Although we presently live and work in different towns, our friendship is still one of my most important relationships.
   3. Ours is an active stabilized friendship in which we share the responsibility of being accessible and available to one another.
      1. We enjoy the long catch-up conversations over the phone and occasionally visit one another.
7. Waning friendship
   1. My friend and I appreciate that life involves many changes in personal or family circumstances, careers, and interests.
      1. We have felt the tension in our friendship at such moments. In such instances, the trust we have in each other and the commitment to care for one another have helped us maintain our friendship.
   2. We, therefore, foresee our friendship withstanding every challenge to grow deeper and more meaningful as time passes.
8. Conclusion – A summary of key points