Development of Intimacy in Young Adults, a Multidimensional View

Abstract

50 female and 37 male adult college students responded to an interview, which permitted subjects to be categorized according to their style of coping with the intimacy crisis of young adulthood. The five categories are intimate, preintimate, pseudointimate, stereotyped relationships, and isolate. Subjects in the five statuses were compared on their levels of emotional, physical and intellectual intimacy as measured by the Holt Intimacy Development Inventory. Women who had achieved depth and commitment in their relationships scored higher on emotional and intellectual intimacy than women whose relationships were uncommitted and superficial. Women in deep and committed relationships were also older than women in uncommitted, superficial relationships, while men in committed relationships were older than uncommitted men, regardless of depth. Results were interpreted as supporting Erikson's concept of intimacy, i.e., that relationships combining depth and commitment are the most mature.