Boundaries of Marital and Family Intimacy: From Theory to Empirical Approaches

Research Framework : This article discusses thesymbolic, discursive and practical boundaries of intimate relationships. Ourapproach is inspired by Niklas Luhmann's systems theory. The "boundary" is conceivedas an operation of a relationship in relation to itself: the relationship definesitself through its communicative operations and thus defines the legitimateexpectations of its members. The relation thus exists as a boundary through itscommunicative operations, which directly or indirectly determine what it is and whatit is not. Symbols, rules of meaning and semantic references are tools used inboundary work. However, the symbols do not define the ways in which these tools maybe employed in this work. Objectives : The article has two mainobjectives. First, by utilizing and defining the concepts of "boundaries" and"boundary work," the paper offers innovative theoretical tools for intimacyresearch. Second, it demonstrates the empirical utility of these concepts bydiscussing examples of their application to the study of forms and processes ofintimacy in the social sciences. Methodology : Primarily theoretical in focus,the paper begins by conceptually clarifying and defining the concepts of"boundaries" and "boundary work" in the social sciences, and then discusses theirapplications to intimate, marital and family relationships. Results : The boundaries of relationshipsemerge from the operationalization of symbols, semantic references or rules ofmeaning in communication between partners or members of relationships. The symbolsused do not determine the methods of their operationalization, which makes itnecessary to observe the operations of the boundary work directly in order todescribe and understand them. Conclusions : Having explored the theoreticaland empirical foundations of the concept of boundaries in the sociology of intimaterelations, this paper documents the centrality of semantics and discourse in theboundary work that defines intimate relations. It also shows how the conceptcaptures the operations of self-definition that the relationships themselves need inorder to continue to exist.  Contribution:  This article summarizes what isknown about the concept of boundaries and shows its heuristic potential foraddressing intimate, marital or family relationships. The articles collected in thisissue also contribute by demonstrating its relevance in analyzing a diversity ofintimate relationships, regardless of their composition, duration, or degrees ofstability or institutionalization.