BIRTH OF TWO MATURE AND

SELF-SUFFICIENT INDIVIDUALS.

Progression
STAGE IV: “Deep & Lasting
LOVERS EXERCISE THE ALREADY
Love”
Maturation &
DEVELOPED PARTS OF THEMSELVES IN
ATTEMPT TO REDUCE FRUSTRATIONS

of
Intimate
AND MAKE THE RELATIONSHIP RUN
MORE SMOOTHLY.

STAGE III: “The other half ”

Differentiation

Relationships Adjustment
DIFFERENTIATION IS POSSIBLE.
LOVERS VALUE INDIVIDUAL
&
FUSED TOGETHER, LOVERS
Consolidation DIFFERENCES, LEARN FROM EACH
OTHER'S PERSPECTIVES, AND
STRUGGLE ABOUT HOW TO RELATIONSHIP IS WELL-DEFINED. INCORPORATE THEIR PARTNER'S
ASSERT INDIVIDUALITY IN
EACH KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT COMPLEMENTARY ELEMENTS INTO
A PROGRESSION OF STAGES IN DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP THE RELATIONSHIP. IN
ESSENCE, THIS STRUGGLE IS FROM THE OTHER, BUT PAYS THE THEIR OWN FUNCTIONING.
IN THE BROADER CONTEXT OF INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS.
THE UNDERSIDE OF STAGE I. PRICE IN A RIGIDITY AND NECESSITATES TIME AND
“I-love-you-but-I’m-not-in-l REPETITION. ENERGY COMMITMENT TO THE
STAGE II: ove-with-you” MOUNTING RESENTMENT. RELATIONSHIP COMPARABLE TO
FEELING OBLIGATED TO THE THAT OFTEN RESERVED FOR
STAGE I: “Being in love”
TAKES PLACE AS Conflict & POINT WHERE IF ONE PARTNER WORK AND CHILDREN.

Infatuation Power Struggle

TWO PEOPLE MEET, FAILS TO CONTRIBUTE, THE A RELATIONSHIP THAT LEAVES
BECOME DEEPLY
OTHER SUFFERS. SOME OF THE LOVER’S NEEDS
INVOLVED, AND

& Fusion
FALL IN LOVE.
INFATUATION SYNDROME.
MAINTAINS LOVERS' ATTENTION ON
THEIR SIMILARITIES AND THE PLEASANT
ASPECTS OF THEIR DIFFERENCES.
COURTSHIP. LIMIT CRITICAL THINKING
AND ENCOURAGE INTENSE IDEALIZATION
OF THE RELATIONSHIP
INFATUATION. SEPARATES EACH
PARTNER FROM THEIR INDIVIDUAL
SELVES AND BINDS THEM TOGETHER.
FUSION. THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT
THEY HAVE CONNECTED WITH SOMEONE
WHO IS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THEM.
PERPETUAL FEAR OF BEING INCOMPATIBILITIES
WHAT WAS DEEMED AS A STRENGTH
LEFT ALONE. VERY POWERFUL UNRESOLVED.
IN STAGE I IS NOW VIEWED AS A
LIABILITY STAGE II. AND CONTAMINATES THE INCREASE IN GOODWILL,
RELATIONSHIP. A NEW SENSE OF TRUST,
TRANSITION FROM STAGE I [BLISS] TO
LESS INTERNAL STRUGGLE, GENEROSITY,
STAGE II [TENSION] EMPHASIZES A
MAINTAINS A SENSE OF DEPENDENCY, RESPECT,
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
AND PROVIDE THE COMFORT OF A AND UNDERSTANDING.
A CHALLENGING BUT POWERFUL DEPENDABLE RELATIONSHIP.
LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.
A SELF-PERPETUATING PATTERN OF
ESTRANGEMENT AND ISOLATION.
A PULL TOWARD THE OPPOSITE POLE Intimate relationships rarely progress smoothly from one stage to the
next; rather, they progress in fits and starts, with different aspects of
OCCURS, SOLIDIFYING THE LOVER'S
DIFFERENCES. each stage manifesting themselves at any given time.
SEPARATION/ CONVERGENCE/ DIFFERENTIATION
SOURCE: PAUL DAVID , PH.D. [2022, 24 SEPTEMBER] STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT IN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS.
RETRIEVED FROM https://pauldavidphd.com/wp-content/uploads/Stages-of-Intimacy.pdf