ABSTRACT
One of the classic interactional patterns familiar to therapists who work with couples is the emotional pursuer-distancer relationship. One member of the couple desires greater intimacy and emotional closeness and pursues his or her partner. The other member of the couple is uncomfortable with greater intimacy and, accordingly, distances. A reciprocal, vicious cycle is then created. The more one partner pursues, the more the other partner distances. When the pursuer tires of pursuing and begins to distance, the roles often reverse, with the former distancer now pursuing the former pursuer (Freeman, 1992; Karpel, 1994).
