Counseling Psychology - Proxemics and Haptics and the Impact of Culture and Ethnicity - Essay Example

Counseling Psychology - Proxemics and Haptics and the Impact of Culture and Ethni Proxemics has been defined as “the study of the communicative effect of the physical space between interacting people” (Tauber and Mester, 2007, p.57). Haptics is the study of “touching behavior” of people (Krueger, 2008, p.6). The importance of proxemics and haptics is in understanding communication situations and developing effective communication skills. In Indian culture, the people usually touch each other only in very intimate and friendly situations.

Smiling, and, rocking and nodding heads are the two common aspects of interpersonal communication prevalent in this culture. Both these gestures help to create a friendly, warm atmosphere, formal enough to be suitable for any common interpersonal communication situation. Also, there are certain proxemic and haptic rules embedded in the unconscious mind of an Indian, which differ, based on gender as well as age. Respecting the elderly is a part of Indian culture. Keeping a ‘decent’ physical distance from women is also part of this culture.

Hargie (p.344) has observed that “Indian culture places a very high value on acceptance, self-suppression and concern for the feelings of others.” In India, touch between a man and a woman who are not married is most often highly improper. Same sex touching is common among Muslims whereas this is not so common among Hindus (Krueger, 2008, p.6). But in this culture, even a mother will not usually embrace her adult son. And public display of affection (PDA) is very minimal. People tend to maintain and manipulate the physical spaces between each other differently in relation with their “interpersonal relationship, the context of the communication and their particular goals” (as cited in Tauber and Mester, 2007, p.56). This is where proxemic communication comes in.

Krueger (2008, p.6) has explained the significance of haptic communication or touch, as a gesture of bonding and which is necessary for “psychological and physical well-being.” The application of both these communication techniques in interpersonal communication during a counseling session has to be done very carefully and taking care of the culture of the person being counseled. While applying proxemics and haptics in counseling a young married Indian woman, it has to be kept in mind that you never touch the woman while counseling, unless she belongs to a very urban and modern life setting.

You should not move your body too close to the counseled. If the counseled is in a very emotionally pathetic situation, you can touch on her head slightly in a consoling gesture or slightly pat her shoulder. If you have to touch her hands, you should limit your touch to a simple tap or pat on the back of the palm. Even if you need to hold her hands, you have to make it brief. Usually, Indian men do not like their wives being touched by other men. And women are also very self-conscious about their bodies.

Hence even a casual touch, without understanding its cultural connotations could alienate the counseled and her husband from the counselor. While counseling this young woman, it is better to make her sit opposite to you across a table rather than in a more informal posture like side to side on a sofa. If the counselor is very aged and the woman is very young, then the counselor can intervene with more proxemic and haptic gestures. This will not be considered inappropriate. References Hargie, O, (2010) Skilled interpersonal communication: research, theory and practice, London: Taylor & Francis.

Krueger, J, (2008) Nonverbal communication, Munich: GRIN Verlag. Tauber, R.T, & Mester, C.S, (2007) Acting lessons for teachers: using performance skills in the classroom, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group.