Chapter 1: Introduction: Intimacy From a Cultural-Psychological Standpoint

The focal theme for this volume of Annals of Cultural Psychology is intimacy. At first glance, it might seem odd that a subject so tightly linked to individuality is of interest for a discipline devoted to culture. The study of intimacy can be traced to humanity’s early stages, which supposes the concept precedes the establishment of a scientific worldview. The etymological root of intimacy can be found in the Latin term intimus, the superlative form of the comparative interior, which literally meant “the inmost part” or “the innermost part.” Its prior use already indicated that while there are exterior, visible, manifest objects for someone else, other presumably deeper and valuable objects or possessions lay in an inner, restricted access zone. It is not a fortuitous coincidence that the first metaphorical uses to denote inner aspects of self-awareness can be traced back to authors pertaining to the Stoic tradition in philosophy, particularly in Cicero’s writings. Preceding variations to the contemporary sense of intimacy can be found in early Western discussions on aspects and contents of the soul (namely, today’s consciousness) that lay in one’s inner dialogue, which is not an overt behavior that anyone can access. This longstanding link between intimacy and personal deliberation— sheltered from the influence of external forces—is the reason behind some contemporary authors’ argument on the moral, rather than intellective roots of the concept of Self (Snell, 1953; Taylor, 1989).