Touching Behaviour in Conversational Dyads
Running head: TOUCHING BEHAVIOUR CONVERSATION
Touching Behaviour in Conversational Dyads
Mark-Odean Grant
University of the West Indies, Mona
December 8, 2006
Humans are social and diversely interactive beings. As a result, there is the frequent practice of touching during conversation. This touching may be the conscious decision of individuals, as well as simply a spontaneous form of expression or response. An operational definition of touching would involve the initiation of physical contact between two individuals; for example, shaking hands (Fowler and Fowler, 1969). A conversation involves communication between two individuals by word of mouth (Fowler and Fowler, 1969). Touching as a complement of conversation is very common, but much study has not been done to determine the underlying bases or principles that govern touching behaviour during conversation in the Caribbean, and more specifically, Jamaica. As a result, there is not much empirical knowledge in regards to touching behaviour and the variables that influence frequency (e.g. culture, nature of relationships, gender, age, class, etc.) in the Caribbean region.
Research carried out by Henley (1973) suggest that in public places men more likely to initiate touching in conversations than female; it was interpreted to mean that touching was symbolic of the male's need to control and dominate. This essentially highlights the importance of cultural and historical bases in the initiation and progression of social interaction. Hall and Veccia (1990) investigated the frequency of touch initiated by individuals of different genders. They found that males generally initiated touching more than females, but this varied when the variable of age was considered. More specifically, in young dyads, male were the more common initiators, while in older dyads, female were the more common initiators.
Dibiasse and Gunnoe (2004) found that there are significantly differences in touching behaviour as a result of the
Touching Behaviour in Conversational Dyads
Mark-Odean Grant
University of the West Indies, Mona
December 8, 2006
Humans are social and diversely interactive beings. As a result, there is the frequent practice of touching during conversation. This touching may be the conscious decision of individuals, as well as simply a spontaneous form of expression or response. An operational definition of touching would involve the initiation of physical contact between two individuals; for example, shaking hands (Fowler and Fowler, 1969). A conversation involves communication between two individuals by word of mouth (Fowler and Fowler, 1969). Touching as a complement of conversation is very common, but much study has not been done to determine the underlying bases or principles that govern touching behaviour during conversation in the Caribbean, and more specifically, Jamaica. As a result, there is not much empirical knowledge in regards to touching behaviour and the variables that influence frequency (e.g. culture, nature of relationships, gender, age, class, etc.) in the Caribbean region.
Research carried out by Henley (1973) suggest that in public places men more likely to initiate touching in conversations than female; it was interpreted to mean that touching was symbolic of the male's need to control and dominate. This essentially highlights the importance of cultural and historical bases in the initiation and progression of social interaction. Hall and Veccia (1990) investigated the frequency of touch initiated by individuals of different genders. They found that males generally initiated touching more than females, but this varied when the variable of age was considered. More specifically, in young dyads, male were the more common initiators, while in older dyads, female were the more common initiators.
Dibiasse and Gunnoe (2004) found that there are significantly differences in touching behaviour as a result of the
References: Dibiase, R., & Gunnoe, J. (2004). Gender and culture differences in touching behaviour. Journal of Social Psychology, 144(1), 49-62. Fowler, F Hall, J. A., & Veccia, E. M. (1990). More "touching" observations: New insights on men, women and interpersonal touch. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59(6), 1155-1162. Henley, N Larsen, K. S., & LeRoux J. (1984). A study of same sex touching attitudes: Scale development and personality predictors. Journal of Sex Research, 20(3), 264-278. Schutte, N Singley, S. (2004). Touching behaviour. Hohonu: A Journal of Academic Writing Retrieved November 28, 2006, from http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/academics/hohonu/writing.php?id=50