Take This Quiz To Find Out Which Tier Is Your Relationship Now!
Welcome to the journey of discovery and connection with the Relationship Stage Test! Created by the Arealme team, the Relationship Stage Test is designed to showcase the different faces of love across five developmental stages: the exploration and excitement of the Budding Stage, the closeness and adjustment of the Development Stage, the chemistry and comfort of the Stability Stage, the responsibility and planning of the Commitment Stage, and the symbiosis and fulfillment of the Fusion Stage. By understanding your dynamics in each stage, we provide a personalized analysis of your relationshipâs status. Believe that every examination and understanding of your love is a step toward a more stable, sweeter, and longer-lasting relationship.
Whether youâre just starting a new romance or have been with your partner for years, this test is a practical tool and reference. Take some time with your partner to open the door to a deeper, more beautiful love. Your journey into the depths of love starts here!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the âRelationship Stage Testâ?
The Relationship Stage Test consists of 50 questions. Its framework is based on the âIntimate Relationship Development Stage Model,â which divides relationships into five stages: Budding, Development, Stability, Commitment, and Fusion. These five stages are not simply a matter of âhigher or lower levelsâ but correspond to different dimensions of emotional connection in an intimate relationshipâfrom initial attraction and mid-stage adjustment to deep-seated symbiosis. Each stage has its own typical behavioral characteristics and emotional expressions.
How does the âRelationship Stage Testâ determine the levels?
The âlevel classificationâ of the Relationship Stage Test (Budding, Development, Stability, Commitment, Fusion) is essentially a stage-based summary of the depth of emotional connection, degree of interactive chemistry, and consensus on the future, based on the âAttachment Development Modelâ and âSocial Penetration Theoryâ from relationship psychology:
- Lower levels (e.g., Budding, Development): The core feature is âprobing and adaptation.â Both partners are still finding a balance in emotional expression and meeting each otherâs needs. There might be issues like âunequal effortâ or âcommunication barriers,â but this is a natural part of relationship building, similar to the initial friction when gears mesh.
- Higher levels (e.g., Stability, Fusion): The core feature is âsymbiosis and self-consistency.â The couple has formed stable interaction patterns, such as being able to quickly resolve conflicts. They have also found a balance between âself-preservationâ and ârelationship investment,â neither losing themselves nor being unwilling to compromise for their partner.
How do I interpret my âRelationship Stage Testâ results?
After completing the test, you will receive a specific score, your current level, and a detailed explanation. You can start by looking at your score and the corresponding level description to see if the interaction patterns mentionedâsuch as âwhether you respond promptly to your partnerâs emotionsâ and âhow you handle disagreementsââmatch your daily life. Also, pay attention to the overview of the five love levels and your current position. This can help you identify your relationshipâs strengths and directions for future growth.
Itâs important to note that the test is an âexternal reference,â while the core of a relationship is âyour subjective experience.â The Relationship Stage Test result helps you step back from your immediate feelings and see the bigger picture of your relationship from a rational perspective. A good relationship is never about âreaching a certain level and being set for life.â Instead, itâs about both partners, after understanding their current state, being willing to work together to âmake the relationship a better fit for each otherââand that is the most valuable meaning of the test results.
Can I use the âRelationship Stage Testâ to evaluate other people/couples?
Certainly. You can answer the questions based on your understanding of someone else, inferring how they might respond. For instance, for a question like âDo they remember my preferences?â you can answer based on your daily observations.
However, if you are uncertain about some questions (such as their true thoughts about the future), you can only make subjective guesses. The more you guess, the further the test result will be from their actual state. After all, your judgment comes from your own perception and will inevitably differ from their real thoughts, so such an assessment will be much less accurate than when you take the test for yourself.
References:
Vicente Cassepp-Borges, Joseph E. Gonzales, Annabelle Frazier & Emilio Ferrer (20 September 2023) Love and Relationship Satisfaction as a Function of Romantic Relationship Stages. Trends in Psychology
Acevedo, B. P., & Aron, A. (2009) Does a long-term relationship kill romantic love?. Review of General Psychology
Acker, M., & Davis, M. H. (1992) Intimacy, passion and commitment in adult romantic relationships: A test of the triangular theory of love.. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
Aron, A., & Westbay, L. (1996) Dimensions of prototype of love.. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Cusack, C. E., Hughes, J. L., & Cook, R. E. (2012) Components of love and relationship satisfaction: Lesbians and heterosexual women.. Psi Chi Journal of. Psychological Research
[tend]My partner and I make a point to remember each otherâs preferences, like favorite fruits or hated weather.
[tend]When I find something interesting, my first thought is to share it with my partner.
[tend]I can accurately name three of my partnerâs strengths and three of their weaknesses.
[tend]In our intimate life, we try things the other person likes and also express our own preferences.
[tend]If one of us suddenly gets sick, the other would cancel important work or plans to take care of them personally.
[tend]We both know each otherâs social circles and who they are close to.
[tend]My partner and I openly discuss sexual health topics, like learning about it together and using protection.
[tend]We know about each otherâs family background, such as our parents' jobs and our upbringing.
[tend]When Iâm at gatherings with my partnerâs friends and family, I donât have to mentally prepare myself; I feel comfortable and can be natural.
[tend]My partner and I are willing to change our habits for each other (like quitting smoking or going to bed earlier).
[tend]We can represent each other at family/friend events and handle related matters.
[tend]When weâre in a long-distance situation, we stay in touch every day and share what happened.
[tend]We understand and respect each otherâs political views and beliefs.
[tend]When one of us isnât in the mood for intimacy, the other is understanding and gives them space without getting upset.
[tend]When one of us has to make a big decision, the other offers sincere advice and supports whatever they ultimately choose.
[tend]When one of us makes a mistake, we comfort them first before analyzing what went wrong, instead of just placing blame.
[tend]We have been living together for more than 12 months.
[tend]During arguments, my partner and I have never threatened to end the relationship.
[tend]We know each otherâs career goals and offer support and encouragement.
[tend]We regularly reflect on our relationshipâs health, asking things like, "Have we been neglecting each other lately?" and proactively make adjustments.
[tend]When weâre out, my partner and I hold hands or stay physically close.
[tend]We discuss our plans for the next 1-3 years together, like which city to work in or our living arrangements.
[tend]When my partner achieves something small, I celebrate as if it were my own success.
[tend]My partner and I share household chores, like one person cooks and the other washes dishes, so one person isnât doing it all.
[tend]When one of us shows vulnerability (like after a career setback or during self-doubt), the other is completely accepting and provides strength.
[tend]My partner and I share our phone passcodes or payment passwords with each other.
[tend]When one of us faces a setback, the other actively helps brainstorm solutions instead of just saying, "Donât be sad."
[tend]My partner and I respect each otherâs hobbies and interests, and even if we donât like them ourselves, we support the otherâs participation.
[tend]We plan our household or relationship budget together, including monthly expenses, savings, etc.
[tend]When we disagree, we listen patiently to the otherâs point of view instead of rushing to argue back.
[tend]My partner and I share our views on deep topics like marriage, aging, and death, and agree to face the futureâs unknowns together.
[tend]My partner and I both care for each otherâs parents as if they were our own family.
[tend]When one of us has normal interactions with people of the opposite sex, the other doesnât feel insecure at all.
[tend]We respect each otherâs sexual boundaries and desires and would never force the other to do something they donât want to do.
[tend]My partner and I use each otherâs photo as our phone wallpaper or chat background.
[tend]We have shared our "secrets" with each other, such as childhood traumas or past failures.
[tend]After a fight, even if we havenât made up, I still worry about whether my partner has eaten.
[tend]My partner and I have deep conversations about what a "soulmate" means to us and strive to be that person for each other.
[tend]When we recall past emotional hurts, weâre honest with each other about our feelings and agree to avoid similar pain in the future.
[tend]We see sex as a part of our emotional connection, not just a physical need, and we focus on emotional intimacy during the act.
Your partner gives you an expensive piece of clothing, but itâs not really your style. You would:
Your partner is venting to you about a conflict with a coworker. You would:
[check]Which of the following topics have you and your partner discussed?
You notice your partner has been down lately and lacks motivation. When you ask, they donât want to talk about it. You would:
Youâre sick in bed. After finding out, your partner would:
Youâre discussing retirement plans, and your partnerâs ideas differ from yours. You would:
During a fight, your partner says emotionally, "You just donât understand me at all!" You would:
Your partner wants to take a professional training course to improve their skills, but itâs expensive, and theyâre hesitant. You would:
You both agreed to learn a new skill together, like playing the guitar, but your partner is learning slower than you and is getting discouraged. You would:
[check]Which of the following has your partner done for you?
Your love has reached the ultimate stage of deep symbiosis, becoming a âsymbiotic relationship,â like two trees with intertwined roots, each growing independently yet supporting one another. You can accurately sense each otherâs emotionsâwhen they frown, you know itâs work-related without asking; when youâre silent, they hand you a glass of water and say, âTake your time.â You not only anticipate each otherâs reactions but also view mutual growth as a shared responsibility. Your life goals are highly aligned. At this point, love has transcended âlikingâ and become âI need you, and I complete you.â The danger at this stage is the loss of self through excessive fusion. A healthy state maintains independence within the symbiosisâfor example, supporting your partnerâs solo travels while sharing in all the spiritual gains. This is the most mature form of love.
Your love is transitioning from âpresent companionshipâ to a âfuture bond,â establishing a mature relationship contract, much like partners signing a lifelong agreement to plan a future together. Your trust in each other is deep, and you rarely doubt your partnerâs loyalty. You proactively integrate each other into your social circles, such as introducing them to friends and family, and naturally say things like âMy partner and I are planning toâŚâ When facing important decisions, you subconsciously consider their feelings. The core of this stage is a âsense of responsibilityââyou would drop work to care for them when theyâre sick, save money together for their goals, and even when facing future difficulties, youâre willing to say, âWeâll face it together.â At this point, social connections and emotional investment create significant barriers to leaving, making it difficult for even more attractive prospects to shake your commitment. However, be wary of the relationship falling into a mechanical routine; neuroscience confirms that regularly experiencing new things can reactivate the brainâs reward circuits.
Your love has entered the âcomfort zone,â where mutual understanding is replacing the initial guesswork, like co-pilots starting to coordinate their navigation. You can be yourselves without deliberate efforts to please, and itâs not awkward even when youâre sitting together doing separate things. When minor conflicts arise, you no longer resort to the silent treatment or avoidance but communicate proactively. Differences in habits and values become the main challenge, a phase psychologists call the cognitive restructuring period, where you reassess if your partner meets your criteria for a life partner. Successful couples develop a dynamic balanceâfinding a flexible space between âweâ and âI,â for instance, by reserving time for independent social activities each week while still making a point to have dinner together.
You are actively drawing closer to each other, like vines slowly intertwining, entering a passionate, infatuated state. You deliberately create opportunities to be together, such as going on dates or sharing favorite movies. You begin to share secrets and create exclusive memories, and the effects of oxytocin significantly increase the need for physical contact. You become willing to share more personal topics, like childhood experiences or opinions on certain matters, and their responses become particularly important to you. Youâll feel secretly happy for a long time if they remember a small detail you mentioned. However, itâs easy to fall into an âemotional blind spotâ at this stageâoverlooking your partnerâs character flaws or viewing compromise as proof of love. Studies show that establishing conflict-resolution rituals during this phase can significantly enhance the relationshipâs future resilience.
Your love is like a tender sprout in early spring, in the initial exploratory stage where attraction is brewing. You are drawn to each other by instinct but still maintain a safe distance, filled with tentative feelings and uncertainty. You subconsciously pay attention to their activities, like checking their social media updates and noticing their interactions with others. You feel nervous around them, perhaps even deliberately avoiding direct eye contact. At this point, the release of dopamine brings a sense of excitement, but both of you are still evaluating the relationshipâs potential. You tend to magnify their positive traits while carefully hiding your true self due to unfamiliarity. Psychology confirms this is a period of idealized projection. Itâs important not to mistake a racing heart for true love; a healthy relationship needs time to test whether this initial chemistry can transform into a genuine connection.
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