The parties to an intimate relationship regard one another as human beings, and not as objects. They are interested in and derive pleasure from a progressive exposure of themselves to each other. They also seek greater participation in each other's skills, sensitivities, achievements, wisdom, strength, and virtues. These, they value. But even more importantly, each party to the intimate relationship cherishes the other as an entire person, as a flawed yet somehow infinitely valuable life unfolding.
Intimate communication stirs and is tinged with affect and imagery.
Dreams and daydreams, hatred and love, anger and tenderness are the stuff of intimacy. Intimacy is something which seems to terrify us. We struggle to achieve it, only to experience mounting anxiety which leads to flight from it. Existence is a cyclical ebb and flow of intimacy and detachment. When the balance between these two positions becomes unfavorable in our lives, our existences are lonely and starved.