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Sex differences in the perception of touching
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|April 1, 1978
Summary
Women perceive touching more favorably than men, both when initiating and receiving touch. Touch perception is linked to self-esteem, trust, and Machiavellianism, reflecting traditional sex-typing.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Human Behavior
Background:
- Touch is a fundamental aspect of human interaction.
- Societal norms and traditional sex-typing may influence the perception and experience of touch.
- Understanding sex differences in touch perception is crucial for interpersonal dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex differences in the perception of touching.
- To explore how likeability of touch varies between males and females under different conditions.
- To examine correlations between touch perception and psychological traits.
Main Methods:
- 25 male and 25 female college students participated.
- Participants rated the likeability of touch under various conditions.
- Correlational analyses were performed with psychological measures.
Main Results:
- Women reported more favorable affect when touching compared to men.
- Women were perceived as liking to be touched more than men.
- Positive correlation between touch perception and self-esteem in men.
- Negative correlation between touch perception and Machiavellianism in women.
- Positive correlation between touch perception and trust in women.
Conclusions:
- Results suggest significant sex differences in touch perception.
- Findings align with traditional sex-typing of touching behaviors.
- Psychological traits mediate the relationship between sex and touch perception.