When people discuss intimacy, physical closeness is the first thing that comes to mind. After all, being intimate with someone usually means being physically close and connected to each other. However, while the physical aspect of intimacy is obvious, it isn’t the only factor at play.
Having satisfying and fulfilling intimate encounters requires an emotional connection between you and your partner. While the sensations may be physical, your emotional connection with your partner plays just as much of a role in building an intimate relationship.
- The basics of physical intimacy
- Understanding emotional connections
- The relationship between emotional connection and physical intimacy
- The benefits of building an emotional connection in physical intimacy
- Tips for building an emotional connection
- The takeaway
Below, we’ll help you understand what physical intimacy and an emotional connection are, how these two things are connected with each other, and the benefits of establishing an emotional connection in your intimate relationships.
Read on to learn more.
The basics of physical intimacy
Physical intimacy is the type of closeness and affection people feel for each other when physical touch is involved. It encompasses a range of different practices that couples usually perform, and it promotes a close relationship between two people. This is often seen as a crucial aspect of romantic and sexual relationships, but it also plays a role in other interpersonal relationships as well.
Types of physical intimacy include hugging, kissing, cuddling, holding hands, sexual activity, and even non-sexual acts like resting your head on a person’s shoulder or putting your arm around someone.
Physical intimacy varies between every couple. Everybody enjoys different types and levels of physical intimacy. However, many people overlook the importance of an emotional connection when building these intimate relationships. But before we get into that, we need to understand emotional connections a bit more.
Understanding emotional connections
While physical intimacy is the bond people form through physical touch and affection, emotional connections are bonds based on shared experiences and feelings. These connections grow from a mutual understanding and respect of each other’s emotions and it typically goes beyond the typical superficial bond.
An emotional connection with a person requires a deep level of understanding with the individual. This means practicing empathy, reaching out, and learning to trust each other. These connections are important in all types of relationships, from romantic interests to friends.
People with an emotional connection allow themselves to be vulnerable around each other and provide the other with a safe space where they can share their thoughts and feelings. This fosters a strong connection between you and your partner, and it can even enhance the satisfaction of your physical intimacy.
While physical and intimacy and emotional connection sound like two separate concepts, they actually go hand-in-hand, as one has a massive effect on the other, especially in romantic relationships.
The relationship between emotional connection and physical intimacy
The interplay between emotional connections and physical intimacy may not be obvious, but it is strong. There are many ways emotional connections affect physical intimacy and vice versa, which is confusing for many people. But here’s a closer look at the relationships of these two types of connections to give you a better idea of how to navigate through them.
How emotions build physical attraction
Emotions are the basis of physical attraction. They are always the underlying force behind physical attraction, as positive emotions like joy often enhance a person’s physical appeal. This means that if you feel a certain happiness and joy when you’re with a person, there’s a higher chance of developing a physical attraction to them. This tight interplay between emotions and physical attraction drives the emotional experiences that build chemistry between two people.
Emotions as the foundation for physical closeness
Positive emotions like love and trust help create an environment where people feel comfortable being close to each other. This helps foster a deeper bond between two people as it gives them a space where they can be vulnerable with each other without the need for masks that hide their true selves.
How emotions impact the quality of intimacy
Lastly, the quality of intimacy is greatly affected by how close two people are emotionally. Sexual satisfaction relies heavily on the emotional connection between two people as it elevates the experience from something purely physical to something closer to the heart. This is why people who build strong emotional connections with their partners may experience more satisfying sexual and intimate activities with their partners.
The benefits of building an emotional connection in physical intimacy
There are many benefits of building an emotional connection with your partner when establishing intimacy. The benefits can even look different for every couple. However, here are a few things you can expect when you build an emotional connection with your partner:
Increased satisfaction
One of the biggest benefits of having a strong emotional connection to somewhere you’re being intimate with is that it increases the satisfaction you feel from the intimacy. While you can always recreate an intimate physical, you can never recreate the emotions you feel at that point in time. That’s why couples with strong emotional connections may feel more satisfied when they are with each other intimately.
Improved communication
Strong emotional connections require open and regular communication. Couples need to give each other a safe space where they can communicate their needs and feelings, and that’s much easier to do when there’s a strong emotional connection involved.
Enhanced trust
Lastly, if you have an emotional connection with someone, you will trust them more. This allows you to explore more intimate practices together, and it will lead to a more fulfilling relationship overall.
Tips for building an emotional connection
Building an emotional connection can be complicated, and everyone has their own approach. However, here are a few tips to keep in mind to make building one of these connections easier:
- Communicate with each other openly and honestly
- Set aside quality time to create shared experiences
- Cultivate empathy and understanding
- Be vulnerable and authentic to each other to make it easier to build trust
The takeaway
You can’t overstate the importance of an emotional connection in physical intimacy, even if the connection isn’t immediately obvious. That said, it’s crucial to have a certain emotional bond with someone for satisfying and fulfilling intimate encounters. This is why couples should try out different strategies for building emotional connections while exploring intimacy with each other.
Learn more about sex and relationships via the Vivastreet blog.
