Interpersonal Relationships: Types and Function

The relationships with your family, friends or even the barber that gives you a shave every other month are a form of interpersonal relationship.
A what relationship?
To put it simply, an interpersonal relationship is a bond between two or more people. You create this bond when you and others are brought together through similar interests or common goals.
We need interpersonal relationships to feed our social and emotional needs. A life without these relationships is a life that lacks support and love, and it’s as miserable as it sounds. However, not all interpersonal relationships are the same, and each of them has different expectations and intimacy levels between the individuals.
The acquaintance stage begins when two people meet for the first time. You start to get to know each other, but you're not necessarily friends yet. The more you talk to each other, the more comfortable it feels to be together.
The build-up stage happens when you start to be friends with another person. At this stage, you'll probably ask to meet them outside of school or work to spend time with that person. The third stage, continuation, comes after this where commitments are made between two people. For example, couples will get married after dating for a few years.
Deterioration happens when misunderstandings and conflicts happen in a relationship. The lack of trust or compatibility causes relationships to fall apart, creating a strain between individuals. If you don't find a solution to a deteriorating relationship, it may end in the termination stage. However, termination doesn't mean the end, as there's a chance that a relationship may go through the first stage again.
Just like how Rome wasn't built in a day, meaningful relationships don't develop in a day. It requires time, patience, and a sense of trust between the individuals. The stronger a relationship gets, the easier it will withstand the test of time.
A what relationship?
To put it simply, an interpersonal relationship is a bond between two or more people. You create this bond when you and others are brought together through similar interests or common goals.
We need interpersonal relationships to feed our social and emotional needs. A life without these relationships is a life that lacks support and love, and it’s as miserable as it sounds. However, not all interpersonal relationships are the same, and each of them has different expectations and intimacy levels between the individuals.
Different Forms of Interpersonal Relationships
All interpersonal relationships are not the same, but you can generally separate them into four categories: family, friends, romantic partners and business relationships.Family
Friends
Romantic Partners
Business Relationships
The Life Cycle of an Interpersonal Relationship
All interpersonal relationships have a beginning, a life span and an end. You can generally categorise them into five stages: acquaintance, build-up, continuation, deterioration and termination.The acquaintance stage begins when two people meet for the first time. You start to get to know each other, but you're not necessarily friends yet. The more you talk to each other, the more comfortable it feels to be together.
The build-up stage happens when you start to be friends with another person. At this stage, you'll probably ask to meet them outside of school or work to spend time with that person. The third stage, continuation, comes after this where commitments are made between two people. For example, couples will get married after dating for a few years.
Deterioration happens when misunderstandings and conflicts happen in a relationship. The lack of trust or compatibility causes relationships to fall apart, creating a strain between individuals. If you don't find a solution to a deteriorating relationship, it may end in the termination stage. However, termination doesn't mean the end, as there's a chance that a relationship may go through the first stage again.
Everyone Deserves a Meaningful Relationship
Interpersonal relationships with our family and friends are important because it brings value and colour to our lives. Even in the workplace, you need to form relationships with your colleagues to work together and get jobs done.Just like how Rome wasn't built in a day, meaningful relationships don't develop in a day. It requires time, patience, and a sense of trust between the individuals. The stronger a relationship gets, the easier it will withstand the test of time.