Skip to main content
Log in

Perceptions of cross-sex and same-sex nonreciprocal touch: It is better to give than to receive

  • Published:
Journal of Nonverbal Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Observers' perceptions of actors engaged in cross-sex and same-sex nonreciprocal touch vs. no-touch interactions were assessed. Touchers were rated significantly higher than recipients on dimensions of status/dominance, instrumentality/assertiveness, and warmth/expressiveness. Furthermore, touchers were rated higher, and recipients were rated lower, on these dimensions than no-touch controls. Female observers rated actors involved in touch interactions as more attractive than those involved in no-touch interactions, whereas male observers did the reverse. Results suggest that nonreciprocal touch conveys several messages, and appears to benefit the toucher more than the recipient. Implications of these results for evaluations of the nonverbal communication patterns of women and men were discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Reference Notes

  • Heslin, R. Steps toward a taxonomy of touching. Paper presented at the meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, May, 1974.

  • Major, B., & Williams, L. Frequency of touch by sex and race: A replication of some touching observations. Unpublished paper. State University of New York at Buffalo, 1980.

  • Alber, J. L. Tactile communication within dyads. Unpublished Master's Thesis, Purdue University, 1974.

References

  • Alagna, F. J., Whitcher, S. J., Fisher, J. D., & Wicas, E.A. Evaluative reactions to interpersonal touch in a counseling interview.Journal of Counseling Psychology 1979,26 465–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broverman, I. K., Vogel, S. R., Broverman, D. M., Clarkson, F. E. & Rosenkrantz, P. S. Sex role stereotypes: A current appraisal.Journal of Social Issues 1972,28 59–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deaux, K. Sex differences. In T. Blass (Ed.),Personality variables in social behavior. Hillside, N. J.: Erlbaum, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, J. D., Rytting, M., & Heslin, R. Hands touching hands: Affective and evaluative effects of an interpersonal touch.Sociometry 1976,39 416–421.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frank, L. K. Tactile communication.Genetic Psychology Monographs 1957,56 209–255.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goffman, E.Interaction ritual. Garden City, N. Y.: Doubleday, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harlow, H. F. The nature of love.American Psychologist 1958,13 673–685.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henley, N. M. Status and sex: Some touching observations.Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society 1973,2 91–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henley, N. M.Body politics: Power, sex, and nonverbal communication. Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice-Hall, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heslin, R., & Boss, D. Nonverbal intimacy in airport arrival and departure.Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 1980,6 248–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jourard, S. M. An exploratory study of body-accessibility.British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 1966,5 221–231.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jourard, S. M., & Friedman, R. Experimenter-subject “distance” and self disclosure.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1970,15 278–282.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jourard, S. M., & Rubin, J. E. Self disclosure and touching: A study of two modes of interpersonal encounter and their inter-relation.Journal of Humanistic Psychology 1968,8 39–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleinke, C. L., Meeker, F. B., & LaFong, C. Effects of gaze, touch, and use of name on evaluation of “engaged” couples.Journal of Research in Personality 1974,7 368–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Major, B. Gender patterns in touching behavior. In N. Henley & C. Mayo (Eds.),Gender, androgyny, and nonverbal behavior. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehrabian, A.Nonverbal communication. Chicago: Aldine-Atherton, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montagu, A.Touching: The human significance of the skin. New York: Columbia University Press, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen, T. D., Heslin, R., & Nguyen, M. L. The meaning of touch: sex differences.Journal of Communications 1975,25 92–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen, M. L., Heslin, R., & Nguyen, T. D. The meaning of touch: Sex and marital status differences.Representative Research in Social Psychology 1976,7 13–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pattison, J. E. Effects of touch on self-exploration and the therapeutic relationship.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1973,40 170–175.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silverthorne, C. P., Noreen, C., Hunt, T., & Rota, L. The effects of tactile stimulation and visual experience.Journal of Social Psychology 1972,88 153–154.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spitz, R. A. Hospitalism.The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child 1946,2 113–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Summerhayes, D. L., & Suchner, R. W. Power implications of touch in male-female relationships.Sex Roles 1978,4 103–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitcher, S. L., & Fisher, J. D. Multidimensional reaction to therapeutic touch in a hospital setting.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1979,37 87–96.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winer, B. J.Statistical principles in experimental design. New York: McGraw Hill, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Major, B., Heslin, R. Perceptions of cross-sex and same-sex nonreciprocal touch: It is better to give than to receive. J Nonverbal Behav 6, 148–162 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987064

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987064

Keywords

Navigation