Levine, Risen and Arthof in section two of the text, discussed issues related to sexual intimacy its hope and disappointments. In chapter three of the text, Levine explored the themes of love, intimacy and sexual desire and provided an in depth look as to what they meant to patients. Sexual love is described as “interlocking ideas” consistent of nine aspects namely: love as being a grand, idealized, culturally reinforced ambition; love as the label for the arrangement that people make with each other; love as giving birth to a tenacious bond; love as a moral commitment; love as a self-management process; love as a force in nature that has its way with us throughout the life cycle; love as an ever changing pattern of emotions experienced with
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The first step refers to an intrapsychic process which is stimulated by an experience of one falling in love with someone he/she considers desirous of being a partner. Such an experience is often accompanied by positive social attributes such as being attractive, employed and having a similar value system to the prospective partner. Similarly, when this individual is deemed “the one” a person goes through the processes of excitement, a motivation to be with the person and a worry about being “crazy” (p. 44). These expressions often results in disappointment, embarrassment and even to severe criticism concerning one’s stupidity. Likewise, being in love is often accompanied by great anxiety for fear of getting damaged from disappointment. During this stage, partners experience passionate love where sex is wanted, rehearsed and experienced with great excitement by both that is remembered for a long time. Once the emotional intensity begins to decrease, couples begin to recognize other practical matters of the relationship and this may lead to great dissatisfaction where the issue of commitment becomes a question for …show more content…
When selecting a mate, individuals tend to seek mates who compensate for their deficiencies in themselves and in an attempt to fix things that has happened to them in the past. In terms of having children, a woman’s fixation with her own body and well-being as well as concerns regarding whether or not sex will affect the pregnancy can present obstacles to sex. The birth of a child challenges the intimacy and sexual expression at some point during a couple’s relationship where the extent varies among couples. Illness is another developmental factor which impact relationships. Developmental catastrophes such as menopause in women and early sexual aging in men can result in loss of ease in vaginal functioning for women and physical wear and tear and erectile difficulty in men. Illnesses whether acute or chronic, undoubtedly challenge the ability of a couple to maintain their intimacy and support for each
The first step refers to an intrapsychic process which is stimulated by an experience of one falling in love with someone he/she considers desirous of being a partner. Such an experience is often accompanied by positive social attributes such as being attractive, employed and having a similar value system to the prospective partner. Similarly, when this individual is deemed “the one” a person goes through the processes of excitement, a motivation to be with the person and a worry about being “crazy” (p. 44). These expressions often results in disappointment, embarrassment and even to severe criticism concerning one’s stupidity. Likewise, being in love is often accompanied by great anxiety for fear of getting damaged from disappointment. During this stage, partners experience passionate love where sex is wanted, rehearsed and experienced with great excitement by both that is remembered for a long time. Once the emotional intensity begins to decrease, couples begin to recognize other practical matters of the relationship and this may lead to great dissatisfaction where the issue of commitment becomes a question for …show more content…
When selecting a mate, individuals tend to seek mates who compensate for their deficiencies in themselves and in an attempt to fix things that has happened to them in the past. In terms of having children, a woman’s fixation with her own body and well-being as well as concerns regarding whether or not sex will affect the pregnancy can present obstacles to sex. The birth of a child challenges the intimacy and sexual expression at some point during a couple’s relationship where the extent varies among couples. Illness is another developmental factor which impact relationships. Developmental catastrophes such as menopause in women and early sexual aging in men can result in loss of ease in vaginal functioning for women and physical wear and tear and erectile difficulty in men. Illnesses whether acute or chronic, undoubtedly challenge the ability of a couple to maintain their intimacy and support for each