All interpersonal relationships have some level of intimacy. Describe the four modes of intimacy and give an example of each. (Examples may vary.)

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: Sample student response:

Physical contact—includes the physical touch of another. Examples are a mother and baby bonding through cuddling, friends hugging, or the kissing and lingering touch of lovers.

Emotional contact—self-disclosure of personal feelings to friends, partners, or family. An example is confiding in a friend about a personal struggle, approaching your partner about a sensitive subject, or disclosing information to a therapist.

Intellectual contact—developing a connectedness by sharing knowledge. An example might be students who are working together on a group project or members of a book group getting together to discuss a novel.

Behavioral contact—includes spending more time with someone, either in body-to-body or mediated situations or displaying specific behaviors with that person. Examples might include athletes on a team or volunteers working in unified effort.