Touching

This passage describes how touching is an important part of human intimacy.

Lexile Level: 1200L

Categories: Sports & Health

Studies show that touching is an important part of human life. Touching conveys a feeling of closeness and intimacy, so it is not uncommon to hug family members or friends. However, when we accidentally make contact with someone with whom we are not close, it can create discomfort. When we accidentally bump the foot of a classmate to whom we do not feel particularly close, we might suddenly jerk our foot back and offer an apology to change the tone of the situation. Studies show that we are much more likely to touch others when we are in a positive state of mind. It is also much more common to see people touching in social settings such as parties or other friendly gatherings. Touching in the work place or academic settings is much less common and sometimes not acceptable. Touch is a powerful form of communication, and people tend to be highly selective of whom they touch and under what circumstances.