In the exploratory stage, you are seeking relatively superficial information from your partner. You make small talk, asking things like “Were you a fan of Breaking Bad?” or “How many brothers and sisters do you have?” You’re not likely to reveal anything too deep or personal; you’re still testing the waters, so to speak. A number of monitoring strategies are also at work to reduce uncertainty in this stage. In addition to the small-talk questioning we mentioned, you’re likely to observe your partner closely in order to learn more about his or her attitudes and behaviors. As in the initiating stage, you’ll want to invest further in the relationship if the rewards seem high.