Abstract
This investigation tested whether (1) the Big Five personality traits contribute to favorable perceptions of touch from a relational partner, (2) participants' sex or personality better predicted positive perceptions of touch, and (3) perceptions of touch vary as a function of relationship satisfaction. A total of 305 participants aged 18-69 years completed self-report measures of reactions to touch, personality, and relationship satisfaction. Results showed that agreeableness was a significant predictor of positive perceptions of touch to both intimate and nonintimate body regions. Openness to experience was also a significant predictor in positive perceptions of touch to nonintimate body regions. Overall, personality was a stronger predictor of positive perceptions of touch than either biological sex or relationship satisfaction with the toucher.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1067-1073 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Research in Personality |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2008 |
Keywords
- Big Five
- Biological sex
- Close relationship
- Decoding touch
- Interpreting Touch
- Perceptions of touch
- Personality traits
- Relationship satisfaction
- Romantic partners
- Touch to intimate and nonintimate body regions
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- General Psychology