Body Language: Touching

When talking to someone, especially if it is someone you don't know very well, you'll notice that there will automatically be a sort of 'safe distance' from each other. And if you accidently touch someone you don't know (for instance in a busy store) it is common to apologise.

But when you know someone better and longer, the distance will automatically decrease. There is a danger in that however. Touching and being touched expresses something about social status or hierarchy between people. When you touch someone, however innocent in intention, the other person can get a very different perception.

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