Lecture 9 Nonverbal Communication: Haptics and Kinesics

People use touch to communicate People use touch to communicate Most basic form of communication Most basic form of communication Touch is crucial aspect of human life Touch is crucial aspect of human life Overview of Haptics

Earliest form of human contact Earliest form of human contact Babies’ main source of information & expression Babies’ main source of information & expression Doctor’s hands Bathing Doctor’s hands Bathing Diaper changing Rocking Diaper changing Rocking Feeding Comforting Feeding Comforting Importance of touch in evolution of healthy adults Importance of touch in evolution of healthy adults Infants who are held, touched & cuddled show… Infants who are held, touched & cuddled show… greater weight gain greater weight gain greater activity greater activity greater curiosity & capacity for learning greater curiosity & capacity for learning less sickness and stress less sickness and stress live longer live longer Babies and Touch

Functional/Professional (impersonal) Functional/Professional (impersonal) Physician, Dentist, Nurse, Barber, Hairstylist, Masseur, Tailor Physician, Dentist, Nurse, Barber, Hairstylist, Masseur, Tailor Social/Polite (greeting, bonding) Social/Polite (greeting, bonding) Handshake, “High five”, Cheek kiss Handshake, “High five”, Cheek kiss Friendship/Warmth (fondness, support) Friendship/Warmth (fondness, support) Pat on the back, Embrace, Hug Pat on the back, Embrace, Hug Love/Intimacy (deep caring relationships) Love/Intimacy (deep caring relationships) Full embrace, Stroke of the face, Kiss, Full embrace, Stroke of the face, Kiss, Sexual intercourse Categories of Touch

Study compares touching patterns of Japanese & Ame rican college students Study compares touching patterns of Japanese & Ame rican college students College students between 18 and 24 College students between 18 and Japanese and 120 Americans 120 Japanese and 120 Americans Each group had 60 males and 60 females Each group had 60 males and 60 females Result: Large contrast between two cultures Result: Large contrast between two cultures Permitted touching greater with American Fathers (lea st amount for Americans) than Opposite Japanese Se x Friend (most amount for Japanese) Permitted touching greater with American Fathers (lea st amount for Americans) than Opposite Japanese Se x Friend (most amount for Japanese) Patterns of Physical Contact

Results of Study - Japan

Results of Study - U.S.

Almost total agreement on areas that can & sho uld not be touched Almost total agreement on areas that can & sho uld not be touched Japanese Japanese Frequently: Head - Forehead - Back of the neck - H and – Forearm – Shoulder Frequently: Head - Forehead - Back of the neck - H and – Forearm – Shoulder Rarely: front pelvic region - rear thigh - rear pelvic r egion - rear lower leg Rarely: front pelvic region - rear thigh - rear pelvic r egion - rear lower leg Americans: Americans: Can: same plus the upper arm Can: same plus the upper arm Rarely: same Rarely: same (Although some areas of physical avoidance may reflect inconvenience rath er than inhibition) Physical Contact - What?

Highest frequency between friends Highest frequency between friends Japanese most to least… Japanese most to least… 1) opposite sex friends 1) opposite sex friends 2) mothers and same sex friends (same) 2) mothers and same sex friends (same) 3) fathers 3) fathers Americans most to least… Americans most to least… 1) opposite sex friends 1) opposite sex friends 2) mothers 2) mothers 3) same sex friends 3) same sex friends 4) fathers 4) fathers Opposite sex friends scored much higher among Opposite sex friends scored much higher among Americans than Japanese. Fathers ranked very close to same sex friends Physical Contact – Who?

Major differences in what is permitted Major differences in what is permitted We know what is permitted in our culture We know what is permitted in our culture We don’t know what is permitted in other cultur es We don’t know what is permitted in other cultur es Mistakes cause insult, anger or discomfort Mistakes cause insult, anger or discomfort Physical Contact - Conclusion

Body movements transmit a variety of Body movements transmit a variety ofmessages Emotions - Personality traits - Attitudes Emotions - Personality traits - Attitudes Explicit & Vague Explicit & Vague Different movements = same message Different movements = same message Same movements = different messages Same movements = different messages Overview of Kinesics

Emblems Emblems Illustrators Illustrators Affect displays Affect displays Regulators Regulators Adaptors Adaptors Classes of Movement

Emblems = directly translatable into specific words Emblems = directly translatable into specific words Good luck - I don’t know - It’s hot - money Good luck - I don’t know - It’s hot - money Illustrators = clarify or explain what is said Illustrators = clarify or explain what is said emphasis – pointing - spatial relationships emphasis – pointing - spatial relationships Affect displays = intensity of our emotions Affect displays = intensity of our emotions facial expressions – kissing - stomping feet - handshake facial expressions – kissing - stomping feet - handshake Regulators = control back-and-forth of speaking Regulators = control back-and-forth of speaking head nods - eye movements - posture shift - hand gestures head nods - eye movements - posture shift - hand gestures Adaptors = unintentional body movements reacting to boredom or stress Adaptors = unintentional body movements reacting to boredom or stress holding – scratching – rubbing – picking – squeezing – pinching – holding – scratching – rubbing – picking – squeezing – pinching – pen twirling - playing with an object - playing with one’s hair or clothing - making restless movements with hands or feet Classes of Movement