Editing Intimate relationship (section)

{{Short description|Physical or emotional intimacy}}
[[File:Couple in love (8175382088).jpg|alt=A young couple sits on a bench. The woman is lying down with her head resting on the man's lap.|thumb|Intimate relationships involve emotional or physical closeness.]]
{{Redirect|Intimacy|other uses|Intimacy (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Sexual relationship|sexual relationships between non-human animals|Mating system}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Close relationships|emotions}}
An '''intimate relationship''' is an [[interpersonal relationship]] that involves emotional or physical closeness between people and may include sexual intimacy and feelings of [[Romance (love)|romance]] or love.<ref name="Wong">{{cite book|last1=Wong|first1=D. W.|last2=Hall|first2=K. R.|last3=Justice|first3=C.A.|last4=Wong|first4=L.|title =Counseling Individuals Through the Lifespan|isbn =978-1-4833-2203-2|publisher=[[SAGE Publications]]|year=2014|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=dnYcBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA326 326]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dnYcBgAAQBAJ|quote=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.}}</ref> Intimate relationships are [[Interdependence theory|interdependent]], and the members of the relationship mutually influence each other.<ref>{{Citation |last=Rusbult |first=Caryl E. |title=Interdependence in Close Relationships |date=2003 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9780470998557.ch14 |work=Blackwell Handbook of Social Psychology: Interpersonal Processes |pages=357–387 |editor-last=Fletcher |editor-first=Garth J. O. |access-date=2023-10-30 |edition=1 |publisher=Wiley |language=en |doi=10.1002/9780470998557.ch14 |isbn=978-0-631-21228-7 |editor2-last=Clark |editor2-first=Margaret S.|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The [[Relationship Quality|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.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Finkel |first1=Eli J. |last2=Simpson |first2=Jeffry A. |last3=Eastwick |first3=Paul W. |date=2017-01-03 |title=The Psychology of Close Relationships: Fourteen Core Principles |url=https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-psych-010416-044038 |journal=Annual Review of Psychology |language=en |volume=68 |issue=1 |pages=383–411 |doi=10.1146/annurev-psych-010416-044038 |pmid=27618945 |s2cid=207567096 |issn=0066-4308|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Wiecha |first1=Jan |title=Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior |date=2023 |publisher=[[Springer, Cham]] |isbn=978-3-031-08956-5 |pages=1–11 |url=https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-031-08956-5_1240-1 |language=en |chapter=Intimacy |doi=10.1007/978-3-031-08956-5_1240-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jankowiak |first1=William |title=Intimacy |journal=The International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality |date=2015 |pages=583–625 |doi=10.1002/9781118896877.wbiehs242}}</ref> Social and legal institutions such as [[marriage]] acknowledge and uphold intimate relationships between people. However, intimate relationships are not necessarily [[Monogamy|monogamous]] or sexual, and there is wide social and [[Culture|cultural]] variability in the [[Social norm|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.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Proulx |first1=Christine M. |last2=Helms |first2=Heather M. |last3=Buehler |first3=Cheryl |date=2007 |title=Marital Quality and Personal Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2007.00393.x |journal=Journal of Marriage and Family |language=en |volume=69 |issue=3 |pages=576–593 |doi=10.1111/j.1741-3737.2007.00393.x |issn=0022-2445}}</ref> However, challenges including relationship conflict, external stressors, insecurity, and jealousy can disrupt the relationship and lead to distress and [[Breakup|relationship dissolution]].{{Love sidebar|types}}