Intimacy Status and Couple Communication

Abstract

Based on Erikson's theory that successful resolution of the intimacy vs. isolation crisis results in the enhancement of one's capacity to maintain close relationships, it was hypothesized that a fully developed capacity for intimacy would affect the depth of a person's self-disclosure to his or her romantic partner. A sample of 49 couples ranging in age from 22 to 57 completed an intimacy status interview, the Jourard Self-Disclosure Questionnaire (JSDQ), a relationship satisfaction measure, and were videotaped while discussing topics of varying levels of privacy from the JSDQ. Those with full (Intimate status) vs. partial (Merger and Pseudointimate statuses) resolutions to the intimacy crisis were best differentiated by their JSDQ scores and their satisfaction scores. Couples' analyses indicated that the individual's own intimacy status, plus the combined intimacy statuses of the partners in the couple, together best predicted both partners' self-disclosure and the male partner's satisfaction with the relationship. Intimate status females were most positive in the videotaped dialogue when their partners were also in the Intimate status. Results were interpreted as supporting Erikson's theory.