What is intimacy?
Intimacy is an intimate connection between people that goes beyond physical contact. It includes verbal communication, emotions, thoughts, feelings, desires, needs, perceptions, fears, and secrets. Intimacy requires trust, vulnerability, openness, honesty, sharing, and support. It can be experienced through conversation, touch, eye contact, body language, and behavioral cues. People who are close to each other often experience intimacy. Some people feel more comfortable expressing their innermost feelings than others.
What is attachment?
Attachment refers to the bond between two people. It involves a deep psychological and emotional connection. Attachments can be romantic, platonic, familial, parental, or professional. They may vary from brief acquaintanceships to long-term relationships. There are different types of attachments including secure, anxious, avoidant, disorganized, and ambivalent. Secure attachments are based on mutual respect, empathy, understanding, and affection. Anxious attachments involve insecurity, jealousy, possessiveness, and neediness. Avoidant attachments are characterized by distance, detachment, aloofness, and independence. Disorganized attachments have mixed patterns with alternating closeness and rejection. Ambiguous attachments are uncertain and unpredictable.
Anticipation of separation shapes emotional strategies
Anticipation of separation can shape emotional strategies because it creates uncertainty, anxiety, and stress. When people anticipate being separated from someone they care about, they may become nervous, sad, anxious, depressed, irritable, agitated, or distracted. They may try to hold onto the relationship tighter or push it away. They may behave differently around that person or keep secrets. This can lead to conflict, arguments, withdrawal, or manipulation.
A student might start acting out or rebelling when her parents announce plans for college.
Intimacy behaviors shaped by anticipation of separation
Intimacy behaviors can also be affected by anticipation of separation. People may withdraw, shut down, or cling more. They may act needy, demanding, controlling, or distant. They may become jealous, possessive, or angry. They may seek validation, reassurance, or attention. They may avoid intimacy altogether.
A couple planning a long-distance relationship may not share their feelings openly until they know how things will work out.
In what ways does anticipation of separation shape emotional strategies, intimacy behaviors, and attachment patterns?
Separation anxiety is an intense fear or distress that can arise when people are separated from their loved ones (e. g. , parents, partners). Anticipatory separation anxiety occurs when one individual feels anxious about being separated from another person before the actual separation takes place. Research has shown that anticipatory separation anxiety can influence both emotional strategies and intimacy behaviors.