Social Penetration Theory Introduction In class, we discussed and subsequently investigated several theories of human relationships. All of these theories have examined why and how people relate to each other, as well as trying to explain why they choose a particular relationship and not others. I came across the social penetration theory while reading after one of our classes. Two American sociologists Altman and Taylor developed the theory. They insist: “…relationships include varying levels of intimacy, exchange, or degree of social penetration.” That is, there are stages in relationships between people, which go through some kind of process with a systematic and predictable trajectory. This idea sounds appealing to anyone who has difficulty developing meaningful relationships. Just the thought that relationships follow a path towards closeness, which is an organized and predictable development, will surely save me from countless disappointments. Jason and Kayla About three years ago, a friend of my parents who I will call Jason for the purposes of this post, lost his wife. The central aspect of the theory is the conceptualization of relational development as a process (Amada Carpenter, 2010). Specifically, Altman and Taylor explained that relationships go through sequential stages in their development. They defined four phases (Irwin Altman, 1973): 1- Orientation phase: in this, individuals are cautious and uncertain in their interaction, which is regulated by social rules and formulas. Little information is shared at this stage.2. Emotional Exploratory Exchange Phase: In this phase, individuals begin to relax and are friendlier to each other. Likewise, more information is