"Intimacy" redirects here. For other uses, see Intimacy (disambiguation).
"Sexual relationship" redirects here. For sexual relationships between non-human animals, see Mating system.
Relationships (Outline)
Types
Genetic or adoptive
Kinship
Family
Parent
father
mother
Grandparent
Sibling
Cousin
By marriage
Spouse
Husband
Wife
Open marriage
Polygamy
Polyandry
Polygyny
Group marriage
Mixed-orientation
Partner(s)
Significant other
Boyfriend
Girlfriend
Cohabitation
Same-sex
Life partner
Friendship (romantic / cross-sex / zone)
Intimate and sexual
Casual
Monogamy
Non-monogamy
Mutual monogamy
Polyamory
Polyfidelity
Cicisbeo
Concubinage
Courtesan
Mistress
Activities
Bonding
Courtship
Dating
Engagement
Bachelor's Day
Mating
Meet market
Romance
Singles event
Wedding
Endings
Breakup
Legal/marital separation
Annulment
Divorce
Widowhood
Emotions and feelings
Affinity
Attachment
Intimacy
Jealousy
Limerence
Love
Platonic
Unconditional
Passion
Sexuality
Practices
Bride price
dower
dowry
service
Hypergamy
Infidelity
Sexual activity
Transgression
Repression
Abuse
Child
Dating
Domestic
Elderly
Narcissistic parent
Power and control
Stalking
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An intimate relationship is an interpersonal relationship that involves emotional or physical closeness between people and may include sexual intimacy and feelings of romance or love.[1] Intimate relationships are interdependent, and the members of the relationship mutually influence each other.[2] The quality and nature of the relationship depends on the interactions between individuals, and is derived from the unique context and history that builds between people over time.[3] Social and legal institutions such as marriage acknowledge and uphold intimate relationships between people. However, intimate relationships are not necessarily monogamous or sexual, and there is wide social and cultural variability in the norms and practices of intimacy between people.
The course of an intimate relationship includes a formation period prompted by interpersonal attraction and a growing sense of closeness and familiarity. Intimate relationships evolve over time as they are maintained, and members of the relationship may become more invested in and committed to the relationship. Healthy intimate relationships are beneficial for psychological and physical well-being and contribute to overall happiness in life.[4] However, challenges including relationship conflict, external stressors, insecurity, and jealousy can disrupt the relationship and lead to distress and relationship dissolution.
Part of a series on
Love
Types of love
Affection
Bonding
Broken heart
Compassionate love
Conjugal love
Courtly love
courtship
troubadours
Falling in love
Friendship
cross-sex
romantic
zone
Interpersonal attraction
Interpersonal relationship
Intimacy
Limerence
Love addiction
Love at first sight
Love triangle
Lovesickness
Lovestruck
Obsessive love
Passion
Platonic love
Puppy love
Queerplatonic relationship
Romance
Self-love
Amour de soi
Unconditional love
Unrequited love
Social views
Anarchist
Free love
Patriotism
Chinese
Ren
Yuanfen
French
Amour-propre
Greek
words for love
Agape
Eros
Ludus
Mania
Philautia
Philia
Philos
Pragma
Storgḗ
Xenia
Indian
Kama
Bhakti
Maitrī
Islamic
Ishq
Jewish
Chesed
Latin
Amor
Caritas
Portuguese
Saudade
Yaghan
Mamihlapinatapai
Concepts
Color wheel theory of love
Bhakti yoga
Biological basis
Love letter
Love of Christ
Love of God
in Christianity
Love magic
Valentine's Day
Philosophy
Religious views
love deities
Mere-exposure effect
Sacred Heart
Similarity
Physical attractiveness
Triangular theory of love
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^Wong, D.W.; Hall, K.R.; Justice, C.A.; Wong, L. (2014). Counseling Individuals Through the Lifespan. SAGE Publications. p. 326. ISBN 978-1-4833-2203-2. Intimacy: As an intimate relationship is an interpersonal relationship that involves physical or emotional intimacy. Physical intimacy is characterized by romantic or passionate attachment or sexual activity.
^Rusbult, Caryl E. (2003), Fletcher, Garth J. O.; Clark, Margaret S. (eds.), "Interdependence in Close Relationships", Blackwell Handbook of Social Psychology: Interpersonal Processes (1 ed.), Wiley, pp. 357–387, doi:10.1002/9780470998557.ch14, ISBN 978-0-631-21228-7, retrieved 30 October 2023
^Finkel, Eli J.; Simpson, Jeffry A.; Eastwick, Paul W. (3 January 2017). "The Psychology of Close Relationships: Fourteen Core Principles". Annual Review of Psychology. 68 (1): 383–411. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010416-044038. ISSN 0066-4308. PMID 27618945. S2CID 207567096.
^Proulx, Christine M.; Helms, Heather M.; Buehler, Cheryl (2007). "Marital Quality and Personal Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis". Journal of Marriage and Family. 69 (3): 576–593. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2007.00393.x. ISSN 0022-2445.
and 23 Related for: Intimate relationship information
An intimaterelationship is an interpersonal relationship that involves emotional or physical closeness between people and may include sexual intimacy...
non-monogamy in that the relationships involved are loving intimaterelationships, as opposed to purely sexual relationships. The word polyamorous first...
An open relationship is an intimaterelationship that is sexually non-monogamous. An open relationship generally indicates a relationship where there...
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is domestic violence by a current or former spouse or partner in an intimaterelationship against the other spouse or...
as chronic mistreatment in marriage, families, dating, and other intimaterelationships—can include emotionally abusive behavior. Although psychological...
Human trafficking Institutional abuse Intimidation Intimate partner violence Intimaterelationship Isolation to facilitate abuse Love bombing Mind control...
g. married, cohabitating, civil union) of a person's intimate partner. Cohabiting relationships continue to rise, with many partners considering cohabitation...
Caring in intimaterelationships is the practice of providing care and support to an intimaterelationship partner. Caregiving behaviours are aimed at...
Queerplatonic relationships (QPR) and queerplatonic partnerships (QPP) are committed intimaterelationships which are not romantic in nature. They may...
intimaterelationshipsIntimate part, a place on the human body which it is usually customary to keep covered with clothing in public areas Intimate relationship...
Relationship anarchy (sometimes abbreviated RA) is the application of anarchist principles to intimaterelationships. Its values include autonomy, anti-hierarchical...
DeVault; Theodore F. Cohen (2010). The Marriage and Family Experience: IntimateRelationship in a Changing Society. Cengage Learning. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-534-62425-5...
organization. Intimaterelationship Cohabitation – living together without being married. Committed relationship – interpersonal relationship based upon...
less likely to report domestic violence that has occurred in their intimaterelationships than heterosexual couples are, or that lesbian couples experience...
language of intimaterelationships cannot be used acceptably in non-intimaterelationships. When people are in an intimaterelationship, they often position...
Conversation is a key point in every emotional intimaterelationship. For example, a long-distance relationship is mostly based on conversation, along with...
often used as a synonym for intimate partner violence, which is committed by one of the people in an intimaterelationship against the other person, and...
additional opportunities for parasocial relationships to intensify because it provides more opportunities for intimate, reciprocal, and frequent interactions...
used to communicate positive and intimate feelings, it most often occurs in people who have a preexisting relationship, whether familial, platonic or romantic...
historically been close and intimaterelationships, which includes predominantly dating and married couples, parent-child relationships, and friendships & social...
of evaluating each other's suitability as a partner in a future intimaterelationship. It falls into the category of courtship, consisting of social events...
live together. They are often involved in a romantic or sexually intimaterelationship on a long-term or permanent basis. Such arrangements have become...
a person's partner in an intimaterelationship without disclosing or presuming anything about marital status, relationship status, gender identity, or...