Exploring Intimacy and Distance—A Theoretical Framework

The 2nd chapter sets out an interdisciplinary theoretical framework to explore LATT couples, drawing on decolonising psychology frame (Kessi, 2016; Bhatia,2018), also including conceptualisations from the Global South, followed by transnationalism and intersectionality for exploring the couples’ positioning across nations and multi- categorial belonging. For investigating intimate relationships, the chapter includes emotional reflexivity (Holmes, 2014) and the “shared third,” a co-created inter-subjective togetherness (Benjamin, 2004). Digital emotions (Ellis & Tucker, 2015) mediated by the digital technologies used by LATT couples and cyberspace (Ben Ze’ev, 2021) as an alternative to one’s actual romantic setting are also part of the framework. Love is presented as a theoretical concept through the work-it-out and soulmate theories and discussed in the transcultural contexts (Karandashev, 2021), followed by spirituality (Carr, 2000) for sense-making of some LATT couples’ unconventional situations. The chapter suggests that digital technology and spirituality may be significant simultaneously.