While intimacy generally refers to the closeness and interdependence of partners, the extent of self-disclosure, and the warmth or affection experienced within the relationship (Perlman and Fehr, 1987), the concept of intimacy is not restricted to the closeness or interactions between people in intimate relationships, as even people who are not in intimate relationships can have intimate interactions in a certain space and time (Wynne and Wynne, 1986).
a widely-accepted conceptualization of intimacy is to distinguish between intimate interactions and intimate relationships (Hinde, 1981).