Touch Adults People Hands Kiss Men Describing Textures

Adults in the United States don't touch each other as often as they do in many other countries. American adults often shake hands, especially in a "work setting" (work-related environment), but other "physical contact" (touching) is unusual.

Adult women who are friends may hug each other to say hello or goodbye, but they rarely hold hands or "link arms" (bend one's arm against another person's elbow). They generally don't kiss each other on the cheek (or anywhere else), either.

Adult men are even less likely to hug each other, although very close friends might do so. Men might give each other a "high-five" (a single clap high in the air between the right hand of two people), but any touching beyond that is unusual. Adult men almost never kiss each other, even if they are related.

"Couples" (pairs of people in a romantic relationship) many show more "affection" (care for another person) through physical touching, but "public displays of affection" (things people do to show they like each other when they are around other people) are different from people to people and from place to place. In general, younger couples are more likely to "engage in" (have; do) public displays of affection, kissing and hugging each other, or sitting on one another's "lap" (the area formed on the top of one's legs when one is seated). Older couples may hold hands, but are less likely to kiss "in public" (where they can be seen by other people).

Adults casually touch children, often holding hands, hugging, and kissing them. This behavior becomes "rarer" (less common) as the child grows older. And most adults avoid physical contact with children whom they do not know well, because it could be "perceived" (interpreted) as inappropriate touching or "harassment" (unwanted attention or contact).