The importance of psychological intimacy and relational commitment can be seen in many areas of human life.
Parents and their children need to feel close to each other to create strong bonds that last throughout their lives. Similarly, couples need to be committed to one another to maintain healthy relationships. In addition, employees may have to work closely together for years before trusting them fully. Ritualized sexual acts are one way that people can create intimate connections over time. This type of connection is particularly important when it comes to sexual relationships because they can help reinforce these connections even more. Let's take a closer look at how this happens.
Ritualized Sexual Acts
When a couple engages in ritualized sexual acts, they are doing something that creates an emotional bond between them. It doesn't matter if they do the same thing every night or once in a while; what matters is that they do it regularly enough to make it a habit. They might kiss each other goodnight every night before going to bed, or they could cuddle after having sex. These behaviors become automatic over time, which means they don't require much thought.
This also means that the couple will feel a sense of closeness when they engage in these actions.
Creating Psychological Intimacy
Psychological intimacy involves being emotionally connected to someone else. When two people are engaged in regular sexual behavior, they are creating a physical connection that leads to an emotional one as well. The body produces oxytocin, sometimes called "the love hormone," when two people are physically affectionate. Oxytocin increases feelings of closeness and trust between partners. In fact, studies show that couples who regularly engage in physical contact report higher levels of satisfaction with their relationship overall. This includes touching and holding hands, not just sex itself.
Creating Relational Commitment
Couples who engage in ritualized sexual acts often create commitments to each other. These habits can help reinforce these bonds over time.
If a man always picks up his wife from work and then takes her out for dinner, he shows that he values her presence and wants to spend time with her. If a woman always prepares breakfast for her husband before work, she shows him that she cares about his needs. Both of these behaviors create an expectation that the other person will be there and available.
This creates relational commitment because both parties know what to expect from each other.
Ritualized Sexual Acts in Other Contexts
These same principles apply to any context where people develop relationships over time. Parents may have bedtime routines with their children that create bonds through habit. Employees might chat together at lunch or break times. These small actions create a sense of belonging and psychological intimacy between them. By forming these bonds, they build stronger relationships than they would otherwise.
How do ritualized sexual acts reinforce psychological intimacy and relational commitment over time?
Ritualized sexual acts can enhance psychological intimacy and relational commitment by promoting trust, familiarity, and connection between partners. These acts involve both physical and emotional components that create a sense of security and comfort for each other, increasing their willingness to share personal thoughts and feelings. Over time, these repeated actions can strengthen the bond between them, making it more challenging for either party to consider breaking up the relationship.