What term describes the situation where an affair may act as a solution to a couple’s unresolved issues with intimacy?

The term that describes the situation where an affair may act as a solution to a couple’s unresolved issues with intimacy is triangulation. This concept, often discussed within the context of family systems theory, involves the involvement of a third party in a relationship dynamic, which can help manage stress or conflict. In this case, the affair serves as a third element that can divert attention away from the underlying issues the couple may be facing in their intimate relationship.

Triangulation can occur when one partner seeks emotional or physical fulfillment outside the primary relationship, indicating that there are unmet needs or unresolved issues within the couple. The affair can become a way of coping with those unresolved matters, albeit often unhealthily. By engaging in triangulation, the couple might temporarily alleviate their problems, but ultimately, this avoidance does not address the core issues of intimacy that require direct communication and resolution between the partners.

The other terms listed—projection, repression, and displacement—relate to different psychological defense mechanisms and do not accurately capture the concept of using an external relationship to manage conflicts or intimacy issues within a primary partnership.