Final answer:
The final stages in Knapp's Staircase Model are Circumscribing, Stagnation, and Avoidance, signifying the decline in communication and connection in a relationship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The final three stages in Knapp's Staircase Model of relationship development include Circumscribing, Stagnation, and Avoidance. In the Circumscribing stage, communication decreases and certain areas or subjects become off-limits, signifying a trouble spot in the relationship. Next, the Stagnation stage represents a plateau where the relationship is at a standstill, and the partners are going through the motions rather than growing together. The eventual Avoidance stage sees partners intentionally avoiding each other and creating physical and emotional distance. These stages describe the decline of interpersonal relationships in contrast to the initial stages of development.