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1. Initial attraction occurs and is reciprocated as the two individuals find it is mutual.2. Tentative exploration for continued and consistent mutual attraction, interest, and compatibility during a beginning period of dating lasting from a few weeks to several months. Exploration and experimentation may include sexual intimacy depending on personal, social, religious, and cultural values and expectations.3. Positive experiences from initial exploration and experimentation lead to a commitment to monogamous relationship or exclusivity (professed or actual) after the extended initial period of dating. This period can last for weeks, months, or years as affected by development (physical, intellectual, sexual, spiritual, economic, etc.) and/or be defined by chronological development (too young to co-habituate or marry, biological clock to have children, old enough to co-habituate or marry, etc.). This monogamous or exclusive relationship may not be normative for some groups or individuals. Such individuals or groups may or may not proceed to subsequent stages.4. Positive experiences from the monogamous relationship take committed partners beyond immediate compatibility issues to a next stage that explores for long-term compatibility (life goals, children, career, etc.). This can continue for months to years. Sufficient positive experience may be gained to have confidence to move a next stage of co-habitation without legal commitment (i.e., marriage or domestic partnership- may not be available to same sex couples); and co-mingling of financial, social, and other affairs. This may occur despite minor to major expectations from social, religious, and cultural models. More traditional models do not allow for this stage. This can continue for months to years.5. Positive experiences from exploring long-term compatibility issues and co-habitation (if applicable) lead to commitment as life partners in marriage, as domestic partners, or as is otherwise conceptualized. Once this stage is institutionalized, legitimatised, or personally validated, the couple proceeds to activate their agreed long-term goals and commitments with each other (including possibly having children).