Interpersonal Relationship (Media Style)
The relationship has six stages that move from the initial contact towards the intimacy stage and at times, relationship lead to dissolution. According to DeVito (n.p.), these six stages include Contact, Involvement, Intimacy, Deterioration, Repair, Dissolution. To further understand each stage, they are written below according to their description:
Contact – This is the primary stage of relationship, to which a person hear or see the person for the first time. DeVito (n.p.) says that this stage is when the person forms the physical and mental picture of the other, which is called the perceptual contact. This stage is followed by interactional contact and Initial assessment (changingminds.org).
Involvement – The second stage of relationship is when the person feels a connection with the other individual, which one or both of them want to know each other. There is a mutual feeling, to which both individuals want to have more interactions. This is also when they mutually feel their connectedness with each other.
Intimacy – This stage is when the person feels a need to have a deeper relationship with the other individual. The two phases of intimacy includes interpersonal commitment, where two individuals declare and love and care for one another. The second phase is social bonding, where two individuals declare their affection to the open public, including family and friends.
Deterioration – As the two individuals’ relationship and affection progresses, challenges may arise, which will test the individuals’ commitment and affection for each other. The deterioration stage is when the bonding gets weaker. A person may feel his or her need for own space. There are things that damage the relationship during deterioration, such as a mere broken promise or a major betrayal.
Repair – The repair stage happens when the relationship has been damaged. However, not all people will likely discontinue the relationship especially when there is chance to repair it. On the other hand, if people no longer want to continue, then the relationship goes to the next stage, which is the dissolution.
Dissolution – This is the final stage of the relationship, where couples are no longer interested to bond with each other. To put simply, the relationship has ended.
Application of 6 stages to the movie The Bodyguard
Contact – In the movie, Rachel Marron is a famous singer, to which Frank Farmer, her soon-to-be bodyguard, already knows her physical appearance, her voice, and most her of her physical characteristics. This is the stage when Farmer developed his perception towards Marron. When he became her bodyguard, the interactional contact phase happened. Thus, this is when he had an initial assessment of her characteristics after their personal meet-up. Rachel Marron is a famous singer and it is normal for Farmer to see her onstage and even on the television.
Involvement – The involvement stage happened between Farmer and Marron, when their interactions happen more often due to Farmer’s duty as her personal bodyguard. As he protects her from a stalking and dangerous fan, she became more engaged with him as her protector. She realizes his importance her life, thus the intimacy between them has started to develop. Both Farmer and Marron developed a sense of connectedness and mutuality. Marron felt an unusual, pleasant feelings towards Farmer, although she was still unsure about what she really feels during this stage. All she understand is that she somehow felt personal happiness whenever Farmer does his job as her protector. On the other hand, Farmer was also starting to develop his feelings towards her.
Intimacy – As Farmer continues to protect Marron from danger, the result of this action as well as her trust to him, made her fall in love with him. This was also developed after he was accidentally shot only to prevent her from the assassination. Although Farmer tried his best to keep their relationship as professionally as possible, they slept together. A personal commitment was established between Farmer and Marron. He even introduced her to his own father and most especially, to his personal life.
Deterioration – The deterioration of Farmer and Marron’s relationship happened when she was about to present an Oscar award, where she became anxious about her death threat. Marron walked out from the stage worried about her life. She told him the he made her a “lunatic” when while on the stage. She cursed him without knowing that a danger is on her way.
Repair – Although their relationship was damaged during the awards night, Marron suddenly changed mood and lost her anger after he was shot. She made an effort to fix the relationship.
Dissolution – As previously described, dissolution happens when the relationship is no longer working and individuals have decided to part ways. However, in the movie, the dissolution was presented only to show that they were leaving each other not because they no longer love each other, but to simply end their relationship. Therefore, it was somewhat a part “repaired” relationship a “dissolved” one.
Works Cited
DeVito, Joseph A. The Interpersonal Communication Book. 13th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.
"Devito's Relationship Stages." Changing Minds and Persuasion -- How We Change What Others Think, Believe, Feel and Do. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 July 2016. <http://changingminds.org/explanations/relationships/devito_stages.htm>.
