Counseling Psychology - Proxemics and Haptics and the Impact of Essay

Counseling Psychology - Proxemics and Haptics and the Impact of Culture and Ethnicity - Essay Example 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 â€Å"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 pu blic display of affection (PDA) is very minimal.