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What’s the Confusion About Fusion?—Differentiating Positive and Negative Closeness in Lesbian Relationships
Author(s) -
Ackbar Salma,
Senn Charlene Y.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2010.00219.x
Subject(s) - closeness , confusion , lesbian , psychology , social psychology , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , psychoanalysis , mathematics , mathematical analysis
This study differentiated between closeness and fusion in lesbian relationships, and examined whether age, adult attachment style, social support, outness, and relationship satisfaction were associated with these variables. Participants consisted of 77 women in long‐term, lesbian relationships. Overall, women who reported showing greater closeness toward their partners were more satisfied in their relationships. Age and attachment style were better predictors of closeness and fusion than were social support and outness. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed. Findings highlight the need for therapists to distinguish between positive and negative types of closeness in lesbian relationships, and avoid pathologizing high levels of closeness in lesbian relationships simply because they may deviate from a heterosexual norm.