Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Opposite sex touch avoidance: A national replication and extension

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

Abstract

Virtually all previous research on touch avoidance was conducted in the Northeast region of the United States (U.S.). The present study replicated and extended Andersen and Leibowitz' (1978) research on touch avoidance by testing hypotheses for nearly 4,000 subjects at 40 universities from all socio-cultural regions of the United States. Results confirmed previous research, with the pattern of results at each of 40 universities showing considerable consistency. Opposite sex touch avoidance was higher for females than males, was positively related to communication apprehension, and was negatively related to verbal predispositions to communicate, open communicator style, and self-esteem. Some regional variations were uncovered, but they failed to correspond to political or cultural taxonomies of U.S. regions. Ideas for future research on regional patterns of communication and on touch avoidance are discussed.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

References

  • Aguilera, D. C. (1967). Relationship between physical contact and verbal interaction between nurses and patients.Journal of Psychiatric Nursing 5, 5–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, P. A. (1985). Nonverbal immediacy in interpersonal communication. In A. W. Siegman & S. Feldstein (Eds.),Multichannel Integrations of Nonverbal Behavior (pp. 1–36). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, P.A. (1987). The trait debate: A critical examination of the individual differences paradigm in interpersonal communication. In B. Dervin & M. Voigt (Eds.)Progress in the Communication Sciences, (Vol. 8, pp. 47–82). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, P. A. & Leibowitz, K. (1978). The development and nature of the construct touch avoidance.Environmental Psychology and Nonverbal Behavior, 3, 89–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, P. A., Lustig, M. W. & Andersen, J. F. (1986, May).Communication patterns among cultural regions of the United States: A theoretical perspective. Paper presented at the annual convention of the International Communication Association, Chicago, IL.

  • Andersen, P. A., Lustig, M. W. & Andersen, J. F. (1987). Regional patterns of communication in the United States: A theoretical perspective.Communication Monographs, 54, 128–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, P. A. & Sull, K. K. (1985). Out of touch, out of reach: Tactile predispositions as predictors of interpersonal distance.Western Journal of Speech Communication, 49, 57–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Babbie, E. R. (1986).The practice of social research (4th ed.) Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baerwald, T. J. (1983). Geographic reviews (Review ofThe nine nations of North America).The Geographical Review, 73, 214–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bigelow, B. (1980). Roots and regions: A summary definition of the cultural geography of America.Journal of Geography, 79, 218–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blurnstein, P. & Schwartz, P. (1983).American couples. New York: Pocket Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1977).Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (rev. ed.). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests.Psychometricka, 16, 297–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deethart, J. F. & Hines, D. G. (1983). Tactile communication and personality differences.Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 8, 143–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elazar, D. J. (1966).American federalism: A view from the states. New York: Thomas Crowell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eman, V. A., Dierks-Stewart, K. J. & Tucker, R. K. (1978, November).Implications of sexual identity and sexually identified situations on nonverbal touch. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Speech Communication Association, Minneapolis, MN.

  • Garreau, J. (1981).The nine nations of North America. New York: Avon books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gastil, R. D. (1975).Cultural regions of the United States. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, E. T. (1966).The hidden dimension. New York: Doubleday & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, J. A. (1984).Nonverbal sex differences. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, J. A. (1985). Male and female nonverbal behavior. In A. W. Siegman & S. Feldstein (Eds.),Multichannel integrations of nonverbal behavior (pp. 195–225). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, J. F. (1977). (Review of theCultural regions of the United States).Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 67, 153–154.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Heslin, R. & Alper, T. (1983). Touch: A bonding gesture. In J. M. Wiemann & R. Harrison (Eds.)Nonverbal Interaction (pp. 47–75). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickson, M. L. & Stacks, D. W. (1985).NVC nonverbal communication: Studies and applications. Dubuque, Iowa: William C. Brown Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, S. E. (1986). Sex differences in touch communication.Western Journal of Speech Communication, 50, 227–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, T. S. & Remland, M. S. (1982, May).Cross cultural differences in self-reported touch avoidance. Paper presented at the annual convention of the Eastern Communication Association. Hartford, CT.

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

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Leibowitz, K. & Andersen, P. A. (1976, December).The development and nature of the construct touch avoidance. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Speech Communication Association, San Francisco.

  • Leibwoitz, K. & Andersen, P. A. (1980). The development and nature of the construct touch avoidance. In B. W. Morse & L. A. Phelps (Eds.),Interpersonal Communication: A Relational Perspective (pp. 213–229). Minneapolis, MN: Brooks Cole.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lower, H. M. (1979–80). Fear of touching as a form of communication apprehension in professional nursing students.Australian Scan: Journal of Human Communication, 7–8, 71–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Major, B. (1981). Gender patterns in touching behavior. In C. Mayo & N. M. Henley (Eds.),Gender and nonverbal behavior (pp. 15–37). New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCroskey, J. C. (1978). Validity of the PRCA as an index of oral communication apprehension.Communication Monographs, 45, 192–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehrabian, A. (1971).Silent messages. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montagu, A. (1971).Touching: The human significance of the skin. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montagu, A. & Matson, F. (1979).The human connection. New York: McGraw-Hill Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery, B. M. (1980). Trait, interactionist, and behavior assessment variables in open communication.Communication Research, 7, 479–494.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mortensen, C. D., Arntson, P. H. & Lustig, M. (1977). The measurement of verbal predispositions: Scale development and application.Human Communication Research, 3, 146–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton, R. W. (1978). Foundation of a communicator style construct.Human Communication Research, 4, 99–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton, R. (1983).Communicator style: Theory applications and measures. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. (1965).Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubenstein, C. (1982). Regional states of mind: Patterns of emotional life in nine parts of America.Psychology Today, 16, 22–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheflen, A. E. (1972).Body language and the social order. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salter, C. L. (1983). (Review ofThe nine nations of North America).Journal of Geography, 82, 80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, A. F., Pressman, H. E. & Bartel, H. W. (1973). Self-esteem and tactile communication.Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 13, 73–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorenson, G. A. (1979, May).The effects of touch on interpersonal perceptions. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Communication Association, Philadelphia, PA.

  • Stier, D. S. & Hall, J. A. (1984). Gender differences in touch: An empirical and theoretical review.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47 440–459.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer, S. (1986a). History and strategies of research on social touch.Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 10 12–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer, S. (1986b). Touch: Frontier of intimacy.Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 10 7–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, W. J. (1982). (Review ofThe nine nations of North America).The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 460 174–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, F. N. & Rinck, C. M. (1983). A personal log method for investigating interpersonal touch.Journal of Psychology, 113 119–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zelinsky, W. (1973).The cultural geography of the United States. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zelinsky, W. (1977). (Review ofCultural regions of the United States).The Geographical Review, 67 120–122.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. San Diego State University, 92182, San Diego, CA

    Janis F. Andersen (faculty member of the Department of Speech Communication), Peter A. Andersen (faculty member of the Department of Speech Communication) & Myron W. Lustig (faculty member of the Department of Speech Communication)

Authors
  1. Janis F. Andersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter A. Andersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Myron W. Lustig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

We would also like to thank Stanley Jones (University of Colorado) for his helpful comments to an earlier version of this paper.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Andersen, J.F., Andersen, P.A. & Lustig, M.W. Opposite sex touch avoidance: A national replication and extension. J Nonverbal Behav 11, 89–109 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00990960

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00990960

Keywords

Search

Navigation