Facilitating marital intimacy through self-disclosure

Intimacy is one of several interpersonal dimensions which describe the quality of a marital relationship. An operational definition of intimacy is presented. Evidence that a lack of intimacy is associated with nonpsychotic emotional illness, marital maladjustment and family dysfunction is reviewed. A technique is described which facilitates marital intimacy through self-disclosure. Evidence is presented that cognitive self-disclosure is a major determinant of a couple's level of intimacy. The assumption is made that facilitating cognitive self-disclosure will increase intimacy with subsequent improvement of neurotic symptoms and marital maladjustment. A case is presented which demonstrates that a structured technique for selfdisclosure of relevant assumptions in a reciprocal manner to a supportive listener can facilitate a couple's level of intimacy. The role of self-disclosure, modeling and cognitive restructuring as therapeutic factors are discussed.