1. METHODOLOGY
Participants (N = 83; 66.27% women; ages 18–44) were undergraduates at George Mason
University, who were compensated with course extra credit. Only Facebook users were
recruited for this study. Respondents were recruited among the George Mason University
student population online, face-to-face, and through social media. College students were able
to access the surveys over a three-week period. Participants completed a 15-minute Qualtrics
survey, where they were asked to recall their most recent romantic relationship that ended in
termination. The key variables in the survey were the amount of Facebook intensity and the
relational investment of the previous relationship. For this reason, the questions on this survey
included demographic questions, previous relationship quality, commitment to previous
relationship/partner, and analyzed Facebook usage by means of the Facebook Intensity Scale
(Papp et al., 2012). Next, they were asked to complete the Investment Model Scale (Rusbult,
C. E., Martz, J. M., & Agnew, C. R. (1998). Finally, they were asked measure their likelihood of
demonstrating dissolution behaviors (e.g. differentiating, stagnating, avoidance, and
termination) through the Likert Scale (1-7).
Relational Dissolution: Can It Take a Knapp?
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to determine whether Knapp’s Model of Relational Termination
could be adapted to the popular social networking site Facebook. Facebook is now integrated
into the dating process, and sometimes even the cause for a break-up. Recent studies have
shown a relationship exists between high levels of Facebook usage and an increased
likelihood of relational conflict or dissolution. Knapp’s Model of Relational Termination attempts
to explain the behaviors demonstrated leading to a break-up. The dissolution stages are the
antithesis to each of the formation stages, including: (1) differentiating, (2) circumscribing, (3)
the stagnation stage, (4) avoidance and (5) termination. Differentiating, stagnation, avoidance,
and termination seemed to be the most applicable to Facebook, as uses of space in
circumscribing are difficult to measure online. Additionally, differentiating, stagnation,
avoidance and termination could be assessed through the following coded behaviors on
Facebook. With a 15-minute survey, 99 participants were asked to answer questions based on
their most recent breakup. However, from the convenience sample of GMU students and fellow
Facebook friends only 83 responses were complete. The 83 useable responses were then
analyzed using the SPSS software to determine correlations among the different variables.
The results demonstrated that the research question was partially supported with mostly
Differentiation and Stagnation behaviors able to be adapted online. For example, if participants
were proud to tell people they were on FB, they were more likely to modify their profile pictures
and albums during the differentiation phase. Additionally, how much time they spent on Fb
influenced the reduction of chatting with partner and the reduction or complete halt of tagging
their partner in statuses or pictures during the stagnation phase.
INTRODUCTION
The need for love and affection is a deep emotion at the very core of human beings,
particularly salient among college-age people. Love, however, can be elusive. It might lead two
people to a marriage, or end in a breakup. Love in the Facebook era is even more interesting.
Today, men and women use online profiles to determine if the other is a suitable partner. In fact
49% of women and 27% of men would cancel their first dare because of something they found
online (Match.com, 2012). Facebook is now integrated into the dating process. A romantic
relationship is considered official if it is recognized on a Facebook status (“Facebook Official”
or FSO) (Fox, Warber, & Makstaller, 2013).
However not all romantic relationships lead to a happily-ever-after; breakups are a
common occurrence. A relationship goes through dissolution stages, usually before an official
breakup (Knapp, 1987). The role that Facebook plays in a relationship has attracted much
attention from researchers, yet recent studies have only examined the relationship between
Facebook usage and romantic relationship formation (Fox et al., 2013) Little has been done in
relation to Facebook and relational dissolution.
Knapp’s Model of Relational Termination attempts to explain these behaviors
demonstrated leading to a breakup. However, it is necessary to see if the assumptions of the
model still hold true for online content. The goal of this study is to explore whether Knapp’s
stages can be adapted to Facebook among heterosexual college students’ romantic
relationships.
Karla Ponciano, kponcian@gmu.edu
Department, George Mason University
Faculty Advisor: Xiaomei Cai, xcai@gmu.edu
RESULTS
Fb Attachment v. Relational Dissolution
If participants reported they were proud to tell people they were on Facebook, they were more likely to
modify their profile pictures and albums during the differentiation phase. Then, if they felt out of touch
when they had not been on Facebook in a while, they were more likely to post fun activities and
positive statuses during the differentiation phase. Lastly, how much time they spent on Fb correlates
with the reduction of chatting with the partner and reduction/complete stop of tagging their partner in
statuses or pictures during the stagnation phase (Table 2).
Relational Commitment v. Relational Dissolution
If respondents were completely committed to maintaining their relationship during the relationship,
they were more likely to check into new places during differentiation. When they made plans about
future events in life, considering the impact on their partner, they were more likely to reduce chatting
with their partner and unsubscribe from their partner’s newsfeed during the stagnation and avoidance
stages. If they felt their partner was more important than anyone else, even their parents, friends, etc.
then they were more likely to delete or block their partner or their partner’s friends from Fb. Finally, if
participants felt their life was destroyed after their breakup, they were more likely to reduce chatting
with their partner during stagnation.
Contributing Dependent Variables
The race of participants influenced how much time they spent on Fb. Moreover, being White v. Non
White affected whether participants refrained from public postings about the relationship and writing
to potential rivals during avoidance. Gender also affected whether they modified profile pictures and
albums during differentiation (Table 1).
DISCUSSION
Knapp’s Relational Dissolution model provided the theoretical framework for connecting online SNSs
and the relationship breakup process. Table 2 maps participants’ behaviors with the primary dissolution
stages.
The social network process on Facebook is essential to it and other SNSs like it. Hence, individuals’
behaviors displayed that respondents were more likely to modify pictures and albums if they were
proud to tell people they were on Facebook. Additionally, if participants felt out of touch not logging
into Facebook for a while, they were more likely to post fun activities and positive statuses during
differentiation. Also, how much time one spends on Fb correlates with reduced chatting with the
partner and either a reduction or halt of tagging the partner in statuses or pictures. The ability to see
how individuals are adjusting to their impending breakup status through their behaviors showcases the
communicative process of relationship dissolution. Lastly, how much time they spent on Fb influenced
the reduction of chatting with partner and reduction/complete stop of tagging their partner in statuses
or pictures during the stagnation phase (Table 2).
Considering a control was not enacted to differentiate from Fb behaviors demonstrated before the
breakup and those after, the results may be skewed. It is possible that participants demonstrated these
behaviors during the breakup, but it was merely coincidental and had no relation to the breakup. Then,
if they felt out of touch when they had not been on Facebook in a while, they were more likely to post
fun activities and positive statuses during the differentiation phase. Future research should monitor
this, as well as monitoring if Facebook behaviors can demonstrate a new model of communication.
Additionally, it can be explored if lingering information on Facebook from a past relationship may
negatively influence a Facebook user.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would first and foremost like to thank my mentor and professor, Dr. Xiaomei Cai from the
GMU Communication department, for her unwavering guidance and knowledge, without whom
none of this would have been possible.
REFERENCES
Fox, J., Warber, K. M., & Makstaller, D. C. (2013). The role of Facebook in romantic relationship development: An
exploration of Knapp's relational stage model. The role of Facebook in romantic
relationship development. 771-794.
Knapp M. L. (1978). Social intercourse: From greeting to goodbye. Needham Heights, MA, USA: Allyn & Bacon.
LeFebvre, L., Blackburn, K., & Brody, N. (2014). Navigating romantic relationships on Facebook. Journal of Social
and Personal Relationships, 31(6): 1-21. doi: 10.1177/0265407514524848
Lyndon A., Bonds-Raacke J., Cratty A.D. (2011) College students' Facebook stalking of ex-partners.
CyberPsychology, Behavior, & Social Networking, 14:711–16.
Papp, L. M., Danielewicz, J., & Cayemberg, C. (2012). “Are we Facebook official?” Implications of dating partners’
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Variables B Std. Error Beta T Sig.
Race .011 .068 .020 .159 .874
Gender .678 .320 .256 2.123 .038
Age -.381 .456 -.100 -.835 .407
Commitment .020 .116 .021 .175 .862
Fb Daily Time -.002 .002 -.140 -1.118 .269
Fb Proud .595 .199 .372 2.992 .004
a. Dependent Variable: --Modified profile pictures and albums
Differentiating:
Fun Activities
Differentiating:
Profile Pics
Stagnating:
Reduced Chats
Stagnating:
Reduced Tags
Fb Proud
Sig. (2-
tailed)
.057 .002 .635 .602
Out of Touch
Sig. (2-
tailed)
.026 .080 .746 .511
Fb Daily Time
Sig. (2-
tailed)
.094 .249 .044 .013
Table 1
Table 2