Five types of intimacy

Therefore, as a summary of the existing ideas regarding the components of intimacy, there are at least five types of intimacy.

There is an intellectual intimacy that includes mutual knowledge, interest and self disclosure.
There is a physical component involving touch, affection and sexuality.
There is an emotional component that includes feelings of love and fondness, emotional expression, responsiveness, safety, validation, trust and connection.
There is a behavioral intimacy or friendship in which partners spend time together, and interact with each other (i.e., companionship) in recreational pursuits.
Finally, there is a sense of support, shared history and shared friendships that could be considered social intimacy or common social support.

Each of these five types of intimacy (emotional, social, sexual, intellectual, and recreational) has been operationalized by Schaefer and Olson (1981) in their creation and validation of the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships or PAIR Inventory.