Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Master's Theses Graduate College 8-1981 Intimacy in Context: A Theory of Interpersonal Relationships Sara Mirjam Terian Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses Part of the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Terian, Sara Mirjam, "Intimacy in Context: A Theory of Interpersonal Relationships" (1981). Master's Theses. 1794. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1794 This Masters Thesis-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INTIMACY IN CONTEXT: A THEORY OP INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS by Sara Mirjam Terian A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Department of Sociology Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan August 1981 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INTIMACY IN CONTEXT: A THEORY OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS Sara Mirjam Terian, M.A. Western Michigan University, 1981 To define intimacy, interpersonal relationships are divided into four major categories that encompass the whole range of interpersonal behavior: strangers, acquaintances, friends, and intimates. These are seen as progressive stages, defined by the individual's subjective, affective orientation, and discernable by behavioral indicators. Strangers are divided into total, encountered, and familiar strangers, acquaintances into mere and friendly acquaintances, and friends into Just friends, casual friends, and close friends. The process culminates in intimacy which is divided into three aspects: psychological, the necessary aspect, biological, and ideo­ logical. Total intimacy is the presence of all three. This framework has explanatory and predictive value, and is there­ fore seen as a sociological theory of the middle range or a grounded formal theory, with implications for mental health. It is supported by numerous empirical findings of sociological, psychological, and anthropological research, and by theoreti­ cal elaborations of several prominent sociological theorists. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the preparation of this thesis, I have experienced many of the instrumental qualities of various relationships, for which I am deeply grateful. First and foremost, I wish to thank the members of my committee who not only guided me through the work but were also instrumental in the selection of the topic. Dr. Chris Koronakos introduced me to the major theories of personality and provided the psychological expertise to the committee. I greatly appreciate his contributions. Dr. David Chaplin suggested that I should define intimacy before proceeding to examine social movements that attempt to supply It, which was my Initial topic. The final thesis grew out of that definition. I also wish to thank him for his valuable criticisms, corrections, and suggestions which helped sharpen my focus. Dr. Morton Wagenfeld,.the chairman of my committee, alerted me initially to the "problems of living" type of mental disorders which Invoked my curiosity and led to the choice of the initial topic. Special thanks are due to him for the encouragement and support he provided especially in the preparation of the proposal and for allowing me to follow the lead of the research as It unfolded. I feel fortunate to have had such an open-minded advisor. Furthermore, my family and numerous friends have greatly 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. contributed to this study both directly and indirectly. Experiencing affective relationships has given me some of the "insider’s view," important for phenomenological understanding, and discussions on the topic have stimulated my thinking. My intimate, Dr. Abraham Terian, has been the most important person in this function while also serving as a sounding board, homemaker, and professional supporter. Ari, Satu, and Sonja have not only tolerated a mother who became a "familiar stran­ ger" shut in her study, but have also given their help and support. Finally, I wish to thank all the researchers who have born the heat of field labor and whose findings I have used in this study. The credit for any possible contribution is due to them and the above mentioned— named and unnamed— persons. Sara MirJam Terian iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INFORMATION TO USERS This was produced from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technological means to photograph and reproduce this document have been used, the quality is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help you understand markings or notations which may appear on this reproduction. 1. The sign or “target” for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is “ Missing Page(s)". If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting through an image and duplicating adjacent pages to assure you of complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a round black mark it is an indication that the film inspector noticed either blurred copy because of movement during exposure, or duplicate copy. Unless we meant to delete copyrighted materials that should not have been filmed, you will find a good image of the page in the adjacent frame. If copyrighted materials were deleted you will find a target note listing the pages in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., is part of the material being photo­ graphed the photographer has followed a definite method in “sectioning” the material. It is customary to begin filming at the upper left hand corner of a large sheet and to continue from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. If necessary, sectioning is continued again—beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. For any illustrations that cannot be reproduced satisfactorily by xerography, photographic prints can be purchased at additional cost and tipped into your xerographic copy. Requests can be made to our Dissertations Customer Services Department. 5. Some pages in any document may have indistinct print. In all cases we have filmed the best available copy. University Microfilms International 300 N. ZEEB RD„ ANN ARBOR, Ml 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 1317358 TERIAN » SARA MIRJAM INTIMACY IN CONTEXTS A THEORY OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY* M.A.* 1981 COPR. 1961 TER IAN. SARA MIRJAM University Microfilms International 300 N . Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, M I 48106 ©1981 SARA MIRJAM TERIAN All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a check mark V 1. Glossy photographs or pages. 2. Colored illustrations, paper or print_____ 3. Photographs with dark background ___ 4. Illustrations are poor copy______ 5. Pages with black marks, not original copy. 6. Print shows through as there is text on both sides of page. 7. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pages. 8. Print exceeds margin requirements____ 9. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine ______ 10. Computer printout pages with indistinct print. 11.. Page(s)___________lacking when material received, and not available from school or author. 12. Page(s) ________seem to be missing in numbering only as text follows. 13. Two pages numbered _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Text follows. 14. Curling and wrinkled pages ___ 15. Other __________________________________________________ University Microfilms International Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OP CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ..................... ii LIST OP TABLES. .................... vi LIST OP FIGURES ...... ..... Vi Chapter I. INTRODUCTION . ........ 1 Statement of the Problem ........ 1 Characteristics of a Theory . 9 II. REVIEW OP LITERATURE ON FRIENDSHIP AND INTIMACY. 15 A Global View of Friendship. ........... 16 Use of the Word "Intimacy" . .... 28 Types of Intimate Friendship . .... .5^ Summary. ........................ ...... 72 III. THEORETICAL CONTEXT: FROM STRANGERS TO INTIMATES . 73 Introduction .......... .................. 73 Strangers. ............... ........ 83 Acquaintances........... 9^ Friends...................... 123 Intimates. ........................ .. 155 Summary. ........................... 179 IV. SOCIETAL CONTEXT: THE SEARCH FOR INTIMACY. 181 Societal Background. ......... ........... 181 Search for Intimacy. .... ....... 192 Implications for Mental Health . ....... 201 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. V. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. 209 Testing the Theory . .... ..... 209 Epilogue