Couples Doing The Mountaineering Thing

When one partner is not secure in a social setting the secure one might ensure that they are always close by to provide support – tethering
Like mountaineers, they remain in contact constantly either by eye or touch as if it was a dangerous situation
The ideal situation is a couple who could operate as if they weren’t a couple and no one would think otherwise
A manifestation of this is the random boyfriend at the party who sits in the corner on his phone with a helicoptering girlfriend trying to socialise but also making sure he’s ok