Intimacy

Question 1

Dimensions of Intimacy (4)

Answer 1

1. Physical
   -physical contact
2. Intellectual
   -closeness from sharing important ideas
3. Emotional
   -the exchange of important feelings
4. Shared activities

Question 2

Physical Intimacy

Answer 2

-the importance of physical contact begins before birth when a baby gets physical closeness from being inside the mother
-those who don’t receive physical intimacy as children can be impacted mentally (e.g. more stress, lower IQ)
-contact between caregiver and child is crucial
-babies with more skin-to-skin contact have been found to be healthier (better heart rates, cried less, nursed better, superior cognitive development)
-also seen in closely related species (e.g. rats groomed by mothers had better cognitive development as shown by their ability to navigate a maze)

Question 3

In what way are women more likely to form bonds? Men?

Answer 3

Women are more likely to form bonds through talk and self-disclosure.
Men are more likely to form bonds through shared activities

Question 4

At what stage does sex occur for women? For men?

Answer 4

For many women, sex occurs when intimacy is already formed.
For many men, sex can be a way to create intimacy in the first place.