Although men do not tend to use communication to achieve closeness, they have their own way of bonding. In
one study, 75 percent of the men surveyed said that their most meaningful experiences with friends came not
through talking, but through shared activities. In a related study, researchers found that fathers tend to show
affection to sons by helping them with tasks and challenges. Javier Morales’s experiences certainly
support this idea. Says Morales, “My dad and I are really close, but I wouldn’t say we talk very much.
We spend a lot of time together doing things. We spent all of last Saturday repairing my car, and
this weekend we’re going hiking together. My dad and I have a deep bond. Just because we’re not
talking doesn’t mean we’re not sharing important time together.”