Adolescents' views of intimacy: distinguishing intimate from nonintimate relationships

Two hundred seventy-seven late adolescents were questioned regarding what they believed differentiated an intimate from a nonintimate relationship. Adolescents' responses supported Erickson's (1963) view of intimacy as being characterized by openness, sharing, and trust, with only minimal differences occurring between the sexes, and relative to current dating/relationship status. Their expressed views varied from Erickson's, however, as they included physical/sexual interaction as a critical component. An additional difference was the relatively few students who included self-abandonment and commitment as necessary elements of an intimate relationship. Explanations for these differences are presented.