Nonverbal
communication : Body accessibility among Japanese
R.H. EIzinga |
This
study is a preliminary investigation of one component of nonverbal
communication in Japanese social. relations. Body accessibility with
different interactors was investigated for 175 unmarried Japanese
subjects. 143 females and 32 males were administered a Japanese translation
of Jourard's body contact questionnaire. Scores for the target persons,
intercorrelations between these scores as well as the frequency of
each of the 18 body regions were computed and analyzed. Comparison
of American and the Japanese data showed the cross-cultural applicability
of Jourard's method. Japanese females have mare physical contact
in relationships than Japanese males. Japanese subjects appear to
use the nonverbal tactile communication channel less than American
subjects, in particular in heterosexual relationships. Implications
of the present results and cautions against overgeneralization are
discussed.
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