Intimacy
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | [[Image:Ill-Matched Lovers (Quentin Matsys).jpg |thumb|right|200px|''[[Ill-Matched Lovers (Quentin Matsys)|Ill-Matched Lovers]]'' (c. 1520/1525) by [[Quentin Matsys]]]] | ||
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| - | :[[feeling]] or [[atmosphere]] of [[closeness]] and [[openness]] towards someone else, not necessarily involving [[sexuality]]. It is a [[psychology|psychological]] concept describing the [[interconnectedness]] between people in a [[Interpersonal relationship|relationship]] | + | [[Intimacy]] is the [[feeling]] or [[atmosphere]] of [[closeness]] and [[openness]] towards someone else, not necessarily involving [[sexuality]]. It is a [[psychology|psychological]] concept describing the [[interconnectedness]] between people in a [[Interpersonal relationship|relationship]] |
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| - | The meaning of '''intimacy''' varies from [[Interpersonal relationship|relationship]] to relationship, and within a given relationship. Intimacy has more to do with shared moments than sexual interactions. Intimate feelings may be connected or confused with sexual arousal. Intimacy is linked with feelings of closeness, safety, trust and transparency among partners in a collaborative relationship. For intimacy to be sustainable and nourishing it also requires trust, transparency and rituals of connection. It is possible to compete over intimacy but that is likely to be self-defeating. Intimacy requires empathy - the ability to stand in the other's shoes. | + | |
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| - | Intimacy is both the ability and the choice to be close, loving and vulnerable. Intimacy requires identity development. You have to know yourself and your innards in order to share your self with another. Knowing yourself makes it possible to stand for yourself in an intimate relationship without taking over the other or losing yourself to the other. This ability to be separate and together in an intimate relationship and being okay with that is called [[Murray Bowen|self-differentiation]]. Lacking the ability to differentiate one self from the other is a form of [[symbiosis]]. This too is different from intimacy though to some that kind of dependent closeness may feel the same. | + | |
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| - | From a centre of self knowledge and self differentiation intimate behaviour joins family, close friends as well as those with whom one is [[in love]]. It dwells in a reciprocity, which builds on [[self-disclosure]] and candour. However, poor development of intimacy can lead to getting too close too quickly; struggling to find the boundary and to sustain connection; being poorly skilled as a friend, rejecting self-disclosure or even rejecting friendships and those who have them. | + | |
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| - | The main forms of intimacy are [[emotional intimacy]] and [[physical intimacy]]. Intellectual intimacy, familiarity with a person's [[culture]] and interests, is common among friends. Members of [[religious]] or philosophic groups may also perceive a "[[spiritual]] intimacy" in their commonality. Some describe intimacy with the [[homonym|homonymous]] "into me see". Intimacy can also be identified as knowing someone in depth, knowing many different aspects of a person or knowing how they would respond in different situations, because of the many experiences you've shared with them. | + | |
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| - | Some lose themselves in the first flush of love. 'Falling in love' is a little different from intimacy per se. Some are engulfed by their families in a way that is not close or intimate even though it is described that way by those who are consumed by their family. The first flush of love can be like that too, but slowly the individual will assert themselves and this test the willingness of both to be intimate. | + | |
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| - | It is worth distinguishing intimate relationships from strategic relationships. Intimate behaviour occurs in the latter but it is governed by a higher order strategy, of which the other person may not be aware. For example getting close to someone in order to get something from them or give them something. That 'something' might not be offered so freely if it did not appear to be an intimate exchange and if the ultimate strategy had been visible at the outset. | + | |
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| - | Secrets are generally hostile to intimacy in a committed relationship, but not knowing of the existence of a secret, one can continue to believe there is intimacy. Maintaining the illusion of intimacy may be a strategic skill where there is an imbalance of power brought about by the existence of a secret. Knowledge is the currency of power. Betrayal of intimacy can be a traumatic experience. The person can feel cheated as well as humiliated. | + | |
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| == Works of Art == | == Works of Art == | ||
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| == See also == | == See also == | ||
| - | [[Intimate relationship]]{{GFDL}} | + | :''[[intimate part]], [[intimate relationship]], [[fear of intimacy]]'' |
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| + | *[[Intimate relationship]] | ||
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Intimacy is the feeling or atmosphere of closeness and openness towards someone else, not necessarily involving sexuality. It is a psychological concept describing the interconnectedness between people in a relationship
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Works of Art
- Intimacy (novel) - 1998 novel by Hanif Kureishi
- Intimacy (short story) - A short story by Raymond Carver
- Intimacy (2001 film) - 2001 European drama directed by Patrice Chéreau and loosely based on the 1998 novel of the same name.
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See also
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Intimacy" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
