Final answer:
Mary's tendency to get off topic and make it difficult to maintain and sustain a sense of contact can be categorized as intellectual resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In psychology, resistance to contact refers to the barriers or obstacles that prevent effective communication or connection between individuals.
In the given scenario, Mary's tendency to get off topic and make it difficult to maintain and sustain a sense of contact can be categorized as intellectual resistance. This is because she is not staying focused on the topic at hand and is diverting the conversation away from the main point.
This form of resistance can hinder effective communication and hinder the establishment of a strong connection between individuals.