What is communication? Communication itself has a wide range of ways it could be defined, but one isolating topic that concerns many people is "Interpersonal Communication and Relationships." Interpersonal communication and relationships can be described in two ways, a contextual view and a developmental view. "An important point to note about the contextual definition is that it does not take into account the relationship between the interactants." On the other hand, the developmental view involves people that know each other, and more importantly "view each other as unique individuals." The contextual view and developmental view define interpersonal relationships well, but contact, involvement, intimacy, deterioration, repair, and dissolution are what make interpersonal relationships. .
Contact can be thought of in many different ways, but as a stage of interpersonal relationships it is the "beginning." From what the person sounds like even what the person smells like is all part of contact. Following the first moment of contact, interactional contact usually takes place this consists of "superficial and impersonal interactions." Such as, something as simple as a self-introduction and exchange of basic information can be identified as nearing the final stages of contact. This in turn brings the relationship to the next stage, which is known as involvement.
At the stage of involvement a sense of knowing one another and being connected should start to develop. Throughout this stage you and the other person almost for a pattern of back and forth interaction, which is in other ways considered a method of getting to know one another. It is almost like a sense of self-check, because at the point of contact a person may or may not have decided to continue a relationship with the other individual, but involvement is almost like just making sure your first impressions prove for the better.
