The Gay Couples’ Perception, Feelings and Reactions of Intimacy

• Main Authors: LIU, CHUNG-KANG, 劉仲綱
• Other Authors: CHAO, WEN-TAO
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/j93b9s

碩士 === 國立臺北教育大學 === 心理與諮商學系碩士班 === 106 === This study is aimed to understand male homosexual couples’ experiences in relationships in Taiwan. By interviewing six homosexual male participants who has been in a relationship for more than three years, we can see how they maintain their long-term stable partnerships, how they understand and interpret the concept of intimacy, what emotion they experienced in their relationships, and what would they do to express a sense of intimacy. By doing so the author hopes to understand the discrepancies between homosexual and heterosexual couples. Hence to assist couple counselors to step out of the heterosexual relationship perspective and truly understand the important and meaningful experiences in gay couple relationships. The findings are as followed: 1. Gay couples value their intimate relationship in several aspects, including (a) Intimacy aspects in relationships: “trust-reveal-acceptance”, “sense of security”, “similarity”, “tacit understanding”, “gratitude”, “appreciation”, and “adjusting oneself taking accounts of the partner’s needs“ ; (b) Intimacy aspects in individuals: “keeping some private space", "being oneself "; (c) The physical aspects of intimacy: "Physical contact" and "Sex". 2. Gay couples in Taiwan have the unique experiences in intimacy, which includes (a) Gay partners are easier to communicate and trust, because of the same gender and similar growing process. (b) Focus on the needs of “ being themselves" in relationships. (c)As relationship stabilizes, sex no longer plays an important role in the relationship aspect. (d) Until the relationship becomes stable, sex is a significant milestone representing the progress of relationship. 3. Gay couples’ in Taiwan are faced with numerous challenges in developing intimate relationships (a) Gay couples who hasn’t come out yet and live separately from their partners, can result in emotional alienation. (b) Gay people may become overly dependent on their partners when lacking social support. (c) Gay couples who have different expectations towards an open sexual relationships can result in disturbance, or damaging mutual trust.