Interpersonal Process Model of Intimacy

Components of the Interpersonal Process Model

Self-disclosure, partner responsiveness, and perceived partner responsiveness are the key elements that foster the development of intimacy. According to this model, the intimacy process is typically initiated with self-disclosure, whereby one partner, “the discloser,” shares personal information that reveals core aspects of the self to their partner, “the listener.” This information can be verbal or nonverbal and affective/evaluative (e.g., “When we spend time together, I feel more and more connected to you”) or more factual (e.g., “My longest lasting relationship was 2 years”) in nature. Research suggests that disclosures of emotional information lead to greater feelings of intimacy than disclosures of factual information. This could be because emotional information serves to communicate specific needs and vulnerabilities to one's partner, and by revealing this information, those needs and vulnerabilities are more likely to be perceived, acknowledged, and/or met. The process of self-disclosure is an integral part of the intimacy process because it provides an opportunity for one's partner to respond and convey caring and understanding.

The second part of the model, in which the listener responds to the self-disclosure, is termed partner responsiveness. Once the discloser has revealed personal information, the listener then addresses the communications of the discloser. For the intimacy process to continue, the listener must emit behaviors and expressions that convey acceptance, understanding, validation, and caring toward his or her partner. Partner responses are most effective in contributing to intimacy when they are sincere and immediate and show a genuine understanding of and respect for the discloser's needs. These partner behaviors and expressions are attempts at responsiveness.

An important element in the development of intimacy depends on the disclosure's perception of responsiveness from their partner. In the ideal case, the discloser will interpret his or her partner as responsive and feel that his or her needs have been met. Judgments about the degree of understanding, validation, and care in a partner's response constitute the discloser's view of perceived partner responsiveness. It is possible that, although the listener may intend to be responsive, the discloser may not feel like the partner was responsive to him or her. The disclosure's interpretation of their partner's response is therefore a critical component in the development of intimacy. Occasionally the reverse—the listener's response is not intended to be responsive, yet is perceived as such—may be true as well, although this is less common. The perception of partner responsiveness acts as a [Page 899]mediating variable by which self-disclosure and partner responsiveness influence intimacy. Perceived partner responsiveness is theorized to be a central component both among interpersonal relational processes (e.g., trust, love, commitment) and intrapersonal processes (e.g., self-esteem, personal goal pursuit).

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