Having the ability to create and engage in interpersonal relationships is essential for our survival. Relationships help us learn, work, and procreate. The three types of bonds that foster close relationships are interdependence, intimacy, and having a sense of belonging.
Interdependence is a reciprocal relationship with mutual benefits. This relationship can be between two or more people who help each other to meet their needs. People can usually meet their needs better together than alone. This type of bond also increases the number of resources available to an individual since each member of the relationship might have a different expertise. In this type of bond, all of those involved are both meeting their needs while also having access to the resources provided by each individual in the relationship.
Intimacy is an exchange of trust, affection, and confidence. This is also mutual. Intimacy can include sexual or sensual interactions, but it can also be as simple as sharing a secret with a long-time friend. Intimate moments can also include sharing an inside joke with your family members or a long-time friend. Intimacy can take many different forms, but trust, confidence, and affection must be involved.
Belonging refers to the need to be a part of something. Everyone needs to be a part of a group that shares similar beliefs and values because they help you feel validated. This creates an environment where individuals in the group feel safe and free to be themselves. Belonging allows you to be yourself without fearing what others might say because those around you are similar to you.
When people bond with one another, they can use one or more of these bonds to foster their close relationships. Throughout a person’s life, the amount of people they bond with and the intensity of the relationship can vary. Some people form close lifetime friends at a young age while others begin to form closer relationships in their later years. The length of a relationship is not as important as the depth of the relationship. Having a close relationship that is fostered by one or more of the bonds mentioned above can happen within months or years. Time is not a good measurement on how close a relationship is because if no bond is created then it is a shallow relationship regardless of the years you know the individual.
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By: Cindy Birrueta
Placement Specialist at WellPath Partners
B.S. in Healthcare Administration at California State University, Long Beach
