The Effects of Gender and Power Distance on Nonverbal Immediacy in Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Power Conditions: A Cross-Cultural Study of Classrooms and Friendships

Abstract

This study assessed the association of nonverbal immediacy, gender, and relational power in Brazil, Kenya, and the United States. Five hundred and eight students completed questionnaires on nonverbal immediacy of either their best friend (symmetrical power condition) or an instructor (asymmetrical power condition). Results revealed that women perceived more nonverbal immediacy than men in all cultures. Under symmetrical power conditions women were perceived to use more nonverbal immediacy than men, but under asymmetrical power conditions no gender difference emerged. Specific aspects of this association varied across cultures. Results partially supported cultural power as a moderating variable with regard to the use of non nonverbal immediacy.

Keywords:

• Nonverbal Immediacy
• Power Distance
• Gender
• Relational Power

Notes

1. Hofstede does not include Kenya as its own entity on the power distance index, but groups Kenya together with three other East African countries: Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Zambia. Hofstede and Hofstede (2005) did not provide information about variation among the four countries they assessed in the East African region, but it seems safe to assume that those four countries were culturally similar given that their scores were aggregated. The power distance index score for the East African region was 64. Support for including Kenya as a relatively high power distance culture may be found in descriptions in previous research of Kenyan societal norms regarding status differences (Johnson & Miller, 2002). Support for including Brazil as a representative of a higher power distance culture is found in O'Keefe and O'Keefe's (2004) classification of Brazil as “relatively high power distance culture” (p. 616). The United States (power distance index score = 40) and Israel (power distance index score = 13) were chosen to represent lower power distance countries in this study. Though the United States falls on the low-medium end of the power distance index, scholars have classified the United States as a “small power distance culture” (Ting-Toomey, 1999, p. 70), or “relatively low” (O'Keefe & O'Keefe, 2004, p. 615) power distance culture, or a “relatively small-power distance culture” (Oetzel et al., 2003, p. 72). Israel's score is the second lowest on the power distance index.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Vincent Santilli

Vincent Santilli is affiliated with the Nicholson School of Communication, University of Central Florida, USA

Ann Neville Miller

Ann Neville Miller is affiliated with the Nicholson School of Communication, University of Central Florida, USA