DEVELOPMENT OF TRUST LEVELS

1. Trust begins as the relationship is started.

2. The initial surge of trust slows as the sharing interactions increase in vulnerability.

3. The issues continue to test the trust but positive trust grows all be it more slowly.

4. A strong interaction occurs and causes fast growth.

5. Trust grows at a faster rate due to trust developed in 4.

6. Comfort of trusting allows trust to grow quickly again.

7. A comfort level is reached and the relationship continues without conflict or growth.

8. Major failure of expectations occurs and the trust level plummets.

9. Desire to keep the relationship alive allows trust to begin to climb again, rate is slower due to caution and pain from 8.

10. A comfort level is reached again but is significantly lower due to the broken trust in 8.

11. A minor issue causes failure of expectations and the level of trust falls slightly.

12. Desire to keep the relationship alive allows trust to build again but at an even slower rate due to the break in 11 and memory of 8. Suspicions may be high at this point and some expectations may be so great that growth becomes negligible.

13. Comfort level is reached again but at a lower level.

14. Expectations are not met again. Severe drop in trust occurs due to past pain.

15. Comfort level is very low and unable to continue to build. The relationship is in jeopardy of failure even with the perception of unmet expectations.

16. Unmet expectations occurs and kills all hope of relationship continuing in a healthy manner. The relationship may continue with extreme control by one or both people. The freedom of the relationship is lost. The energy needed to make the interactions is constantly at a frustratingly low level. The people have mostly conflicts and even look to others to meet the needs of this relationship. Major work is required but growth will be unlikely for quite a while. The one who did not live up to expectations must have a sense of good communication and meet the needs of the other person without failure increasing the load. The likelihood of a future healthy relationship is extremely low even with good meeting of expectations for an extended period of time. Trusting others is effected also.