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The need for humans to establish and maintain intimate attachments and connections with others is a central and fundamental human motivation that appears to cut across cultures (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Ryan & Deci, 2000; Sheldon, Elliot, Kim, & Kasser, 2001). A great deal of research has investigated the role of intimacy in the development and maintenance of interpersonal relationships, and researchers have advanced a variety of definitions and operationalizations of intimacy (eg, Argyle & Dean, 1965; Chelune, Robinson, & Kommor, 1984; Fisher & Stricker, 1982; Fruzzetti & Jacobson, 1990; Hatfield, 1988; McAdams, 1988; Patterson, 1976, 1982; Schaefer & Olson, 1981; Waring, 1984). These definitions vary greatly and reflect the particular perspective on relationships taken by the particular theorist (Perlman & Fehr, 1987). Although each perspective has demonstrated explanatory power in its own right …