The document describes the stages of relationship development between Mr. and Mrs. Lyman from initiation to bonding. It outlines their progression from initial dates to engagement and marriage. Key events included their first public date on New Year's Eve, isolating themselves on a raft to have deeper conversations, meeting each other's friends and families, proposing marriage, and exchanging vows on August 10, 2010. Throughout the stages they found common interests, shared personal details, traveled together, and took on shared responsibilities to strengthen their commitment to one another.

1. The relational development of
Mr. & Mrs. Lyman

2. Stage 1 - Initiating
Initiating is the first
phase of coming
together in a
relationship.
Initial contact had
already been made and
this was Christy and
TJ's very first public
date around friends, on
New Years Eve.

3. Stage 1 - Initiating
During the first stage it's
natural behavior to size
up one another.
While still in the
courting stage and
getting to know one
another they would
frequent social events
with friends.

4. Stage 1 - Initiating
Physical factors such as:
clothing, perfumes,
colognes and overall
appearance play a major
role in this stage.
They are both focused on
their image and level of
attractiveness to make
sure they portray the
image that they want the
other to see in them.

5. Stage 1 - Initiating
Individuals look for
signs of commonality
and ways to relate with
one another.
These two clearly found
they both have a goofy
side and love to laugh
at silly jokes.

6. Stage 1 - Initiating
Light conversations instead
of revealing conversations
take place to discover if
the relationship should
move into the next stage.
The relaxed non-verbal body
language shows their
comfort with one another
and that it would be an
easy transition into the
next stage.

7. Stage 2 – Experimenting
Entering this stage
announces that the two
want to take their
relationship a little
more seriously.
Here Christy invites TJ
to be her date at her
good friends wedding.

8. Stage 2 - Experimenting
This stage is also referred to
as the probing stage, to try
and get to know more
about the other person and
to deepen their
connection.
They isolated themselves on
a raft down the river to
have a more in depth
conversation about life.

9. Stage 2 – Experimenting
While experimenting the
couple searches to find out
more about each other.
Christy & TJ found they
share similar interests
such as the outdoors and
being adventurous. The
adventures taken together
make them realize they
have a complementary
relationship.

10. Stage 2 – Experimenting
At this stage it feels like
a safe environment and
both individuals share
personal self-
disclosures.
Christy and TJ create
special moments to
start getting serious
about the possibility of
a future.

11. Stage 2 - Experimenting
Many relationships end at
this stage and do not
develop into anything else
but a mere acquaintance.
This was a weekend getaway
to the beach where Christy
and TJ decided to test this
stage and make the
decision if there would
indeed be a future.

12. Stage 3 - Intensifying
In this stage people test the
relationships potential in a
variety of ways. For
example, testing to see if
the impression they are
making is a good one.
They start to attend more
events as a couple and
incorporate emphasis into
their public relationship.

13. Stage 3 - Intensifying
There becomes an
awareness that a
relationship is
developing.
TJ meets Christy's father
as their relationship
deepens and becomes
more solid.

14. Stage 3 - Intensifying
Relationships are
stimulated by giving
gifts, confirming a
commitment and
expressing affection.
th
For TJ's 30 birthday
Christy surprises him
with a home-made
guitar cake.

15. Stage 3 - Intensifying
Both individuals
continue to encourage
the development of the
relationship.
Christy and TJ took a
trip to Puerto Rico as a
couple. At this point
they knew this would
be a long-term
relationship.

16. Stage 4 - Integrating
In this stage the couple
start to mirror each
others behavior and
mannerisms.
Christy and TJ now have
personal idioms and
rituals when they are
together. They have also
discovered the symmetry
in their relationship.

17. Stage 4 - Integrating
The merging of dressing
alike and similar
language takes a hold
on the relationship as it
continues to develop.
They are both
demonstrating
responsiveness to one
another at all times.

18. Step 4 - Integrating
The couple begins to merge
in many aspects such as
interests and values.
TJ is a huge Trail Blazer fan!
Christy started watching
games and following the
team to show her support in
his interests. Here is an
example of Christy
practicing behavioral
flexibility.

19. Step 4 - Integrating
The merging of the
couples individual
social groups occurs
during this stage.
It started to be more
apparent that Christy's
friends were becoming
TJ's friends and TJ's
friends were becoming
Christy's friends

20. Stage 4 - Integrating
It's also natural in this
stage for the couple to
merge their common
property.
TJ's dog Quincy became
a regular fixture in
their outings and
Christy willingly
started taking on some
responsibility.

21. Stage 5 - Bonding
This stage announces
commitment to the rest
of the world.
They got engaged! TJ
proposed and gave
Christy a ring as a
symbol of his
commitment.

22. Stage 5 - Bonding
The couple may
participate in a public
ritual that bonds them,
such as marriage.
August 10, 2010 they
became Mr. & Mrs.
Lyman.

23. Stage 5 - Bonding
Maintaing a relationship at
this stage includes
sharing power equally.
They went on their
honeymoon to Trinidad
& Tobago where they
drive on the opposite
side of the road, TJ took
control in this situation.

24. Stage 5 - Bonding
To share power equally the
couple needs to divide
up responsibilities and
important tasks to create
a sense of balance.
While TJ drove on the
opposite side of the road
during the honeymoon,
Christy took care of their
finances.

25. Stage 5 - Bonding
Emphasizing and
maintaining positive and
constructive
communications is vital.
Here the happily married
couple encourages and
gives advice to each
other in order to stay
healthy and physically
fit.

26. Stage 5 - Bonding
As we take a peek into the
maintenance stage of a
relationship it's most important
to make frequent connections
with one another in order to
stay united.
Christy and TJ continue to
travel, have date nights, focus
on their connection and make
communication a priority in
their interpersonal relationship.

27. Power point created by Christy Lyman
Speech Communication
MHCC Spring 2012