Among all types of interpersonal communication, the so-called tactile contact, that is, in other words, touch, plays an important role. For some people, tactile sensations are the most effective source of information, so communication without tactile contact is almost impossible for them.
In the psychology of communications, tactile contact means the touch of one person to another. In fact, this is the very first way of communication available to people, because when a person is just born, he is not yet able to perceive auditory and visual information adequately, in contrast to tactile sensations. Some psychologists believe that it is at this stage of communication that the foundations of the future human psyche are born.
Types of tactile contacts
Traditionally, tactile contacts are divided into several types. First of all, these are the so-called "professional" touches. Doctors, masseurs, stylists, tailors simply cannot do without tactile contact in their professional activities. As a rule, most people take such contacts calmly, realizing that they do not contain any additional information.
According to psychologists, women tend to be more positive about tactile contact than men. Because of this, a positive response to touch is called "feminine."
The second group includes ritual touching. This is not about mystical practices, but about a completely familiar handshake or a welcome kiss on the cheek. It is known that the handshake, for example, appeared as a means of demonstrating peaceful and friendly intentions, but over time, this welcome touch has become almost an obligatory ritual.
Finally, the broadest area in which tactile contact is used is in the area of interpersonal relationships. Touching here is a manifestation of affection, sympathy, kinship, sexual attraction. This can be hugs, kisses, a friendly pat on the shoulder, or gentle strokes. This type of strong tactile contact is an effective marker of close relationships, such as between a boy and a girl.
Tactile contact can indicate social status. Most often, touching is allowed by those people who occupy a higher position in society, for example, a boss can slap a subordinate on the shoulder.
The role of touch in communication
In the psychology of communication, there are several main channels of communication. In accordance with which channel a particular person prefers, he belongs to one of several groups: “audials”, “visuals” and “kinesthetics”. It is believed that the first to receive the most complete information is necessary to hear, the second - to see, and the third - to feel. In this case, the senses are understood, first of all, the sense of smell and touch. Thus, kinesthetics rely heavily on touch, which they need not only to receive information, but also to transmit it. They can be easily recognized by their unconscious desire to shorten the communication distance, mechanical touches, and robbing the interlocutor of invisible specks of dust. Communicating with a kinesthetic can be very stressful for people who consider any tactile contact to be a deeply intimate process. If you are such a person, try to immediately warn explicit kinesthetics about your dislike of touch in order to avoid conflict.
