What Makes Touch Comfortable? An Examination of Touch Giving and Receiving in Two Cultures

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Annett Schirmer - , The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (Author)
  • Clare Cham - , The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (Author)
  • Zihao Zhao - , Nanyang Technological University (Author)
  • Ilona Croy - , Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine (Author)

Abstract

This study examined how touch role and culture shape affective touch experiences. Germans (N = 130) and Chinese (N = 130) were surveyed once as toucher and once as touchee. For different touch actions, they (a) provided free-text descriptions of what prompts touch, (b) indicated with whom touch feels comfortable, and (c) highlighted areas of touch comfort on a body outline. Overall, touch was prompted by affectionate feelings, was more comfortable with more closely bonded individuals, and when directed at the upper arms, shoulders, and upper back. Touch role mattered for the experiences prompting touch in that touchees felt less positive than touchers. Culture differentiated touch comfort topographies. Compared with Chinese, Germans felt more comfortable with more intimate touch to the torso and upper back and less comfortable with more public touch to the hands. Notably, however, examining touch role and culture revealed more overlap than divergence, ensuring mutual comfort as individuals physically connect.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1461672221105966
JournalPersonality & social psychology bulletin
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 29 Jun 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85133370753
unpaywall 10.1177/01461672221105966
Mendeley 0e23a0f1-7a3b-3bd6-b619-7a6882e080f6

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • C-tactile, affect, culture, social touch