Understanding Cultural Attitudes Toward Closeness and Connection When people talk about intimacy, the word often conjures ideas of romance, sex, or emotional closeness. Yet, intimacy is shaped not only by individual experiences but also by cultural expectations. The ways people in the West and East approach touch, openness, privacy, and expressions of closeness reveal fascinating contrasts. These differences are not about which side is “better,” but rather how traditions, social structures, and history have molded expectations of human connection.