Physical Contact

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Physical touches of other persons – if, when and how – differ greatly between cultures. Anthropologist found out that there are cultures where touches are more common and more welcome than in other countries. Especially in Arabian regions, in Latin America and in many African regions physical contact is regarded as natural.

In most European countries, the US, Australia and New Zealand touches of other persons usually just apply to sexual partners, family members and close friends. There are also „mixed“ cultures, e.g. in East Asia. In Japan, for example, touches in private life are very common. Many Japanese bathe together or share the same bed, but in public physical contact is a taboo.

In cultures with a lot of physical contact mostly gender decides about the touches that are usually shared. In Arabian countries it is regarded as natural when men hold hands, kiss each other or walk arm in arm. Touches among men are presumed as friendly and kind and have – in contrast to Europe and North America – no sexual connotation. The same behaviour is completely impossible between men and women in Arabian cultures.