Self-Expansion Strategies
This theory suggests that engaging in novel experiences with a partner can enhance desire and relationship satisfaction
What is self-expansion theory
This attachment style is characterized by comfort with intimacy and a view of others as dependable.
What is secure attachment
This type of touch is intended to demonstrate affection and intimacy in close relationships.
What is affectionate touch?
This construct refers to the sense of fondness and shared identity that partners develop, which mediates the link between self-expansion and desire.
What is closeness
Clinicians working with avoidantly attached individuals might focus on this behavior, which mediates the link between attachment avoidance and lower well-being
What is increasing touch frequency?
In self-expansion, partners can expand their sense of self by taking on aspects of each other's identities and experiences.
What is inclusion of other in the self?
Individuals with this attachment style often feel uncomfortable with intimacy and prioritize independence.
What is dismissing (avoidant) attachment
This attachment style is associated with greater discomfort with touch and a preference for independence.
What is avoidant attachment?
This novel construct emphasizes seeing a partner in a new light or discovering unique aspects about them, which helps sustain desire in long-term relationships
What is otherness
To maintain sexual desire in long-term relationships, clinicians can help couples cultivate this dual dynamic of feeling close while also appreciating each other as distinct individuals.
What are closeness and otherness
Psychological theory recognizes that while people have an innate need to connect with others people function best when they are also able to view themselves as competent and distinct individuals.
What is desire through otherness
This attachment style involves a fear of rejection and a need for constant reassurance, often leading to clinginess.
What is preoccupied (anxious) attachment
Daily touch with a romantic partner has been shown to boost this aspect of psychological well-being in the short-term.
What is positive affect?
Research shows that sexual desire tends to decline after this period in relationships, unless protective factors like self-expansion are maintained
What is two years
This therapeutic intervention involves encouraging partners to share positive experiences with enthusiastic engagement, which enhances relationship satisfaction.
What is active-constructive capitalization?
Self-expansion can occur through various activities, such as learning new skills or exploring new places together, which can enhance relationship satisfaction and desire.
What are examples of self-expanding activities?
This attachment style combines elements of anxious and avoidant styles, resulting in a fear of intimacy and rejection
What is fearful attachment.
This happens in individuals with high attachment avoidance, this behavior mediates the relationship between attachment avoidance and lower psychological well-being
What is less frequent touch
Clinicians suggest that balancing intimacy with this quality celebrating partners' individuality can help maintain desire over time.
What is celebrating partners' individuality (differentiation - otherness)
In couples where one partner has low sexual desire, this type of intervention has been shown to improve both sexual and relationship satisfaction by fostering growth through shared experiences.
What is a self-expansion activity intervention?
Engaging in self-expanding activities can lead to increased physiological arousal, which may be misattributed to the partner
What is the arousal transfer effect? Which is one way self-expanding activities impart their effects.
Attachment styles are influenced by early experiences with caregivers and shape adult relationships by affecting how individuals perceive and respond to intimacy and rejection. How do these early experiences impact adult attachment styles, and what are the implications for relationship dynamics?
What is an explanation of the role of early caregiver experiences in shaping adult attachment styles and their impact on relationship dynamics
Despite their discomfort with closeness, individuals high in attachment avoidance still experience these benefits from affectionate touch.
What are improved psychological well-being and positive affect?
According to Bartholomew's model of attachment, individuals with high abandonment anxiety and high avoidance of intimacy often experience conflicting desires for closeness and independence. How might this attachment style affect their behavior in romantic relationships, particularly in terms of touch and intimacy?
What is fearful attachment?
Individuals with fearful attachment tend to have a negative model of both self and others, leading them to desire closeness but simultaneously fear rejection or intimacy. This results in behaviors that oscillate between seeking connection and avoiding it, which can manifest as discomfort with physical touch and difficulty maintaining intimacy in romantic relationships.
Clinicians working with couples often emphasize balancing closeness and otherness to maintain desire in long-term relationships. Based on the findings of self-expansion theory, how can therapists design interventions that simultaneously foster closeness while celebrating partner distinctiveness? Provide specific examples of self-expanding activities that could achieve this balance
What are self-expansion interventions that foster closeness and otherness?
Therapists can design interventions by encouraging couples to engage in novel and challenging activities together, such as learning a new skill, traveling to unfamiliar places, or participating in shared hobbies.