| Table 5.2 How People Touch | ||
| Type of Contact | Purpose | Intimacy Type |
| Handshake | Forming relational ties | Social-polite |
| Body guide | A substitute for pointing | Social-polite |
| Pat | A congratulatory gesture but sometimes meant as a condescending or sexual one | Social-polite or sexual-arousal |
| Arm link | Used for support or to indicate a close relationship | Friendship-warmth |
| Shoulder embrace | Signifies friendship; can also signify romantic connectiveness | Friendship-warmth |
| Full embrace | Shows emotional response or relational closeness | Friendship-warmth |
| Hand in hand | Equality in an adult relationship | Friendship-warmth |
| Mock attack | An aggressive behavior performed in a nonaggressive manner, such as a pinch meant to convey playfulness | Friendship-warmth |
| Waist embrace | Indicates intimacy | Love-intimacy |
| Kiss | Signals a degree of closeness or the desire for closeness | Love-intimacy or sexual-arousal |
| Caress | Normally used by romantic partners; signals intimacy | Love-intimacy or sexual-arousal |
| Body support | Touching used as physical support | Love-intimacy |
Source: Leathers (1986). Adapted with permission.