The Imagined Intimacy Theory (IIT): A Conceptual Exploration of the Intertwinement Between Loneliness, Trauma, and the Mind’s Creation of Emotional Bonds

Key Points

• The aim is to explore how loneliness and emotional deprivation influence perceived emotional intimacy.
• Conceptual framework development
• Theoretical exploration of loneliness
• Investigation of emotional bonds and reciprocity
• Identifies a link between loneliness and the cognitive creation of emotional bonds
• Proposes that emotional deprivation enhances perceived intimacy