5 Stage Three: Exclusivity
When we are able to feel that our dating partner has the
potential to be a mate, or if we just feel that we want to get to
know the person better and give the relationship a chance, we
are ready to move into stage three, exclusivity. In this stage,
we make a commitment to focus on having a primary romantic
relationship and avoid nurturing any romantic relationships
on the side.
In stage three, we build a foundation that allows us to open
our hearts and truly love someone. Before this stage, we are
just reacting to the anticipation of getting what we need and
testing to see if we want to get involved. Now we actually have
a chance to give freely and fully and experience getting what
we need in return.
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