Question: In the middle of the last century, anthropologists introduced the concept of contact and non-contact cultures. There are cultures, for example, in Asia or Southern Europe, in  which people engage in tactile interactions more often, and there are colder nations who are far from this type of behavior.

Some researchers have calculated that a couple, sitting at a table in a restaurant in Paris, made 110 mutual touches per hour whereas in London, not a single one. What is the root of this phenomenon? Does this closeness between people mean that there are some nations who are closer to unity?

Answer: No. I would not say that this signals the closeness of people, but nevertheless, it does speak about their national folk character and upbringing. A lot depends on the environment in which the person was brought up. Still, we can see from people who move from place to place and live, for several generations, far from their native land, how different they are compared to the local residents.

Question: So, all of our natural qualities do not affect in any way the degree of unity that you are talking about? Will everyone have to make their own efforts?

Answer: Undoubtedly, everyone should make some effort to unite, to rise not only above their egoism, but also above their habits in order to be closer to others.

After all, if someone who is talking to you touches you once an hour and someone holds your hand all the time, this still does not mean anything. We must take into account the particular qualities of this person, how he was brought up, and in what environment. It is all very complicated.

I’m talking about the closeness that happens when people feel the same way. The most important thing is to be in a common heart. Perhaps everyone is making a different degree of effort that we cannot compare. But this is already a problem on a higher level.

Question: About what sorts of things do people feel the same way?

Answer: About whether they are in a common desire or aspiration as well as how they define this state, what they do with it, why they are together, and what the purpose of their uniting is.

All this should be clear to them. How much closer to each other they can be in clarifying this goal is the result of their uniting.
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From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 10/30/20

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