TY - JOUR
T1 - Types of touch in cross-sex relationships between coworkers
T2 - Perceptions of relational and emotional messages, inappropriateness, and sexual harassment
AU - Lee, Josephine W.
AU - Guerrero, Laura
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2005 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam. All rights reserved.
PY - 2001/8
Y1 - 2001/8
N2 - This study examined observers' perceptions of nine different types of touch (including a "no touch" control condition) used in cross-sex relationships between coworkers. Results showed that face touch sends particularly strong relational and emotional messages. A soft touch in the cheek area of the face was seen as signaling more affection, attraction, flirtation, and love than the other types of touch. Face touch was also rated as the most inappropriate and sexually harassing of the nine types of touch examined. Arm around the waist was also rated as showing relatively high levels of attraction and flirtation, as well as inappropriateness and harassment. No touch and handshaking conveyed the most formality. Observers rated women as more affectionate, trusting, happy, and composed than men across the touch conditions. Men, however, were judged to be more attracted to their cross-sex partners than were women. These and other findings are discussed to shed light on the multiple interpretations of touch within the context of relationships between cross-sex coworkers.
AB - This study examined observers' perceptions of nine different types of touch (including a "no touch" control condition) used in cross-sex relationships between coworkers. Results showed that face touch sends particularly strong relational and emotional messages. A soft touch in the cheek area of the face was seen as signaling more affection, attraction, flirtation, and love than the other types of touch. Face touch was also rated as the most inappropriate and sexually harassing of the nine types of touch examined. Arm around the waist was also rated as showing relatively high levels of attraction and flirtation, as well as inappropriateness and harassment. No touch and handshaking conveyed the most formality. Observers rated women as more affectionate, trusting, happy, and composed than men across the touch conditions. Men, however, were judged to be more attracted to their cross-sex partners than were women. These and other findings are discussed to shed light on the multiple interpretations of touch within the context of relationships between cross-sex coworkers.
KW - Coworker relationships
KW - Cross-sex relationships
KW - Emotion
KW - Sexual harassment
KW - Touch
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035633279&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035633279&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00909880128110
DO - 10.1080/00909880128110
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0035633279
SN - 0090-9882
VL - 29
SP - 197
EP - 220
JO - Journal of Applied Communication Research
JF - Journal of Applied Communication Research
IS - 3
ER -