Fear-of-intimacy in the interpersonal process model: An investigation in two parts

Abstract

The interpersonal process model (IPM) suggests that closeness develops in relationships when two people reciprocally engage in vulnerable self-disclosure, respond to each other, and perceive each other’s responses as validating, understanding, and caring (responsive). Little is known about how fear-of-intimacy relates to this foundational intimacy process. We conducted two studies of fear-of-intimacy and the IPM. In Study 1, 146 high fear-of-intimacy participants were randomly assigned to either interact for 1 hr with a research assistant (RA) demonstrating high responsiveness, to interact for 1 hr with an RA displaying low responsiveness, or to view a nature video for 1 hr. Unlike previous experiments with undergraduates documenting that high responsiveness predicts closeness up to 2 weeks after the interaction, the current study with high fear-of-intimacy individuals found that high responsiveness predicted closeness immediately after the interaction but this was not sustained over time. In Study 2, we conducted structural modeling in a diverse sample of 216 survey respondents with a range of fear-of-intimacy scores. Consistent with previous studies, perceived responsiveness strongly predicted closeness. Fear-of-intimacy had negative direct effects on vulnerable self-disclosure and perceived responsiveness but a positive direct effect on closeness.