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The Conceptualization and Expression of Intimacy in Japan and the United States

San Francisco State University

David Matsumoto

San Francisco State University

T. Todd Imahori

Seinan Gakuin Daigaku

This study addresses several limitations of previous cross-cultural research of intimacy by (a) differentiating meaning and expression of intimacy, (b) developing items reflecting both cultures’concepts of the two constructs, (c) specifying the relationship context rated, and (d) examining and adjusting cultural response sets in the data set. Findings indicated that the Japanese were more likely to conceptualize intimacy through expressive concepts such as "consideration/love" and "expressiveness" than did the Americans toward same-sex best friend. Likewise, "directly verbalizing how you feel about each other" was more valued by the Japanese than by the Americans toward mother, father, and same-sex best friend, whereas the Americans valued "indirectly verbalize how you feel about each other" more than did the Japanese toward mother, father, and lover. These results, which are contrary to those typically found in the literature, were discussed in relation to the methodologies used, which we believe reduced the possible cultural bias in research.

Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Vol. 33, No. 3, 303-319 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/0022022102033003006


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