Keywords
nonverbal communication, best-friends, instructor, immediacy, gender, power distance, symmetric power, asymmetric power, cross-cultural, culture, emotion, emotional, expression.
Abstract
Previous cross-cultural research in nonverbal immediacy indicates that nonverbal immediacy behavior varies across cultures, and some researchers have suggested that power distance might serve as a moderating variable, however no research has systematically set out to determine whether that is the case. This study assessed the perceived use of nonverbal immediacy under symmetric and asymmetric power conditions, as well as gender, in three cultures: Brazil, Kenya, and the United States. Quantitative data was collected from 527 participants who completed a nonverbal immediacy measure and an individual power distance measure under either a symmetric or an asymmetric power condition. Results related to power distance partially supported the idea that cultural power distance may act as a moderating variable with regard to the use of nonverbal immediacy behaviors. Related to gender, results revealed that: (a) female participants perceived more nonverbal immediacy behaviors than males, (b) under symmetric power conditions females were perceived to use more nonverbal immediacy than males, and (c) under asymmetric power conditions there was no statistically significant difference between use of nonverbal immediacy behaviors between females and males. Implications of results, limitations, and suggestions for future research are presented.
Notes
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Graduation Date
2010
Advisor
Miller, Ann
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
College
College of Sciences
Department
Nicholson School of Communication
Degree Program
Communication
Format
application/pdf
Identifier
CFE0003043
URL
http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0003043
Language
English
Release Date
May 2010
Length of Campus-only Access
None
Access Status
Masters Thesis (Open Access)
STARS Citation
Santilli, Vincent, "The Effects Of Power Distance, And Gender On The Use Of Nonverbal Immediacy Behaviors In Symmetrical And Asymmetrical Power Cond" (2010). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4405.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/4405