Pointing at yourself

When characters point at themselves in anime, they point with their finger very close to their face. I've noticed that Jackie Chan also does this. But in America, people tend to point toward their chest.

Anyone know any particular reason why this is?

cuz amerikans are faggs duh lol ^_^ ~desu

look:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%8E%B6

It's a radical in watashi, a nose!