Communication scholars refer to touch as haptics, from the ancient Greek word haptein. The meaning of such physical contact with others depends on the duration, part of the body being touched, strength of contact, and surrounding context (Floyd, 1999). For example, functional-professional touch is used to accomplish some type of task, such as touch between physicians and patients during examinations, or between coaches and athletes while “spotting” a workout activity. Social-polite touch derives from social norms and expectations, the most common form being the handshake, which has served as a form of greeting for over 2,000 years (Heslin, 1974). You use friendship-warmth touch—for example, gently grasping a friend’s arm and giving it a squeeze—to express liking for another person. Love-intimacy touch—cupping a romantic partner’s face tenderly in your hands, giving him or her a big, lingering hug—lets you convey deep emotional feelings. Sexual-arousal touch, as the name implies, is intended to physically stimulate another person. Finally, aggressive-hostile touch involves forms of physical violence, such as grabbing, slapping, and hitting—behaviors designed to hurt and humiliate others.

People differ widely in their personal preferences for giving and receiving touch, with some liking less contact than others. For example, both Steve and Joe are low-contact people: Joe isn’t much of a hugger, and Steve dislikes handshakes. Yet both have family members who are “high contact” and enjoy sharing lots of touch. This makes for interesting—and occasionally awkward—interactions at family get-togethers, where the parties involved struggle with whether hugs and handshakes should be shared or avoided. Keep such individual preferences in mind when you interact with others, and adapt your touch behaviors to match their desires.