eight stages of intimacy

couples company

 
 
 
 
Eight Stages of Intimacy: Introduction

The Eight Stages of Intimacy
By Laura Dawn Lewis


 

I

s your relationship everything you ever hoped for? Does it feel like something is missing or maybe it’s just note quite what you are looking for? Do your romances crash and burn before six months?

The following illustrates the eight different stages of intimacy. With your life partner, achievement of at least seven of the eight leads to relationship success. With friends, coworkers and associates, you’ll match in some, but not all.

To achieve true intimacy, two ideas must be present:
Safety
& Connectedness

Safety means that as the relationship grows between two people. Should something frighten, upset or threaten you, your partner becomes the safe haven, the person you seek rather than avoid. Safety is something a person earns through trust and actions.

1. Physical
2. Aesthetic
3. Recreational
4. Intellectual
5. Spiritual
6. Emotional
7. Sexual
8. Unconditional


PowerPoint
The Abbreviated Version of this Article Geared at Married Couples
 

PRINT
(PDF, 19 pages)


Connectedness
or more commonly chemistry is that feeling that you are in tune with the other person, you have enough common ground to feel comfortable yet enough differences to keep things interesting. True intimacy cannot be achieved without feelings of safety and feelings of connectedness.

Your relationship may be experiencing several of these stages and they may not necessarily fall in order. However, if you are starting out in a relationship with a new partner and you really are interested in the long-term, the stages are an accurate road map to achieving a fulfilling relationship. Too often, couples reach level three and skip all the way to number seven. Then they wonder why it never worked and they felt unfulfilled.

The longer you are together, ideally, the more of these you will attain. Use this information to evaluate your relationship and see if it is where you want to be. If areas are missing, explore those with your partner and see if your partner wants the same as you.  You'll be surprised, especially if it seems that you never achieve the relationship want, how the stages illustrate what you can do to get there.  If it does feel like something is missing, carefully read stages 4-6, (Intellectual, Spiritual & Emotional Intimacy).  These are the three areas most couples have problems in and the three areas most adults skip in order to reach level seven by the third or fifth date.

If you're just starting to date again, and are tired of unfulfilling relationships and short-term romances (less than six months), the eight stages will help you achieve a loving relationship by giving you a step by step guide to dating. Make a commitment to yourself to explore each stage in-depth with a potential mate before proceeding to the next.  Most superficial relationships will fall apart during stages four through six, the very stages most people skip in order to experiment in seven.  Then they wonder why the relationship didn't last!  When you finish this article, you may be enlightened.

This is also an article you will want to print and think about.  The questions should help you identify areas you may need to focus on in an effort to cultivate the type of relationship you deserve.  It's also a good checklist for review if you and your partner seem estranged, but you're not sure why yet.

Each of the following 8 pages will give you an overview of the Eight Stages of Intimacy, questions to ask yourself if you're in a relationship to gauge if you've achieved this and questions at the end to ask people you are dating to identify compatibility and learn more about each other. At the bottom of each page we provided questions to ask if you are dating or in the first year of a relationship.

Couples Company is very excited to bring this breakthrough in relationship tools.  Not only do the stages provide an excellent step by step plan for dating and finding true love, we believe these stages will also help you get to the root of many of the frustrations you may be experiencing in your current relationship. 

Presenting The 8 Stages of Intimacy:

NEXT PAGE | PRINT

8stages of intimacy

Physical

Aesthetic

Recreational
 
Intellectual

Spiritual

Emotional
Sexual

Unconditional

 

  TOP


The Eight Stages are Derived from the Studies of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, The 7 Levels of Intimacy and Masculine/Feminine Energy Theory of Human Behavior, Stages of courtship and the writing of Charles Jung.
 
 Recommends....
E-books on RELATIONSHIPS Download these
Resources Today!
 

The Magic of
Making Up:


How to get your
Ex Back for good!


The Anatomy
Of An Affair

Are you a victim of infidelity? Find out how to prevent it from happening AGAIN!
 


How to Break Free From An Affair


 

 

500 Secrets
 About Men
Every Woman
 Should Know!

Learn What Men Secretly Wish You Knew About Sex, Romance, Relationships And Marriage, But Will Never, Ever Tell It To Your Face
 

 

Calling Men:

Knowing When and How to Call the men in your life


Should You Stay or Should You Go?
 

 

 Why Doesn't
He Call?



Bring Back A Lost Love!
Learn how to mend your broken heart & bring back the Love of your life, no matter how hopeless your situation appears.
 

 

Divorce And Separation Recovery Program

The Amazing Recovery E-program For Men. Get Over Your Separation In The Shortest Possible Time And Feel Normal Again!

 

Long Distance Lovemaking

A Step By Step Guide To Assist Long Distance Couples On How To Manage, Maintain And Strengthen Their Love While Living Apart.

 

 

The Secrets Of Flirting With Men

Flirting Secrets!
How To Flirt With Men: Popular Flirting Course With How To Meet His Hidden Psychological Needs Now!

 

Seduction For Guys In Relationships
 Discover How To Easily Seduce Women Using The New SSP Seduction Techniques.

 

Ultimate Guide For Women Who Want To Learn How To Make Men Fall In Love.
 

 

50 Secrets Of Blissful Relationships
Discover what the top 1% of couples know
 

 

Get Your Ex-Girlfriend Back!  

83% Success Rate

 
Here's how to do it...Listen to the top 3-mistakes guys make for free by clicking through
 

 


Her-Secrets: Seduction Secrets For Irresistible Women

 

1000 Questions
for Couples


Romantics Guide to
Popping the Question

 

 
See our recommendations in these categories as well!

Marriage
 

Sexuality
 

Dating
 

Wedding
 

Family Law & Finance
 

Health

Parenting

Travel

E-book Search Engine:
Over 11,000 titles in our library!  Enter a subject or keyword below and find your solution!

 


EMAIL 
this
PAGE
 to a friend


Comments?
Tell Us What You Think!


See
Reader Feedback
to This Article

 

TOP

Please Read Our:
Privacy Policy
Legal Disclaimer
 

Home | Advice  | Features  | Jungle Mystique  | Shopping 
Corporate  | Dating  | Romance  | Relationship  | Marriage
2nd Marriage |
Sex  | ParentingFinance | Law  | Fitness | Health

Copyright © Couples Company, Inc. 1999-2009
All Rights Reserved