| The American culture is by comparison to | | | | program being your feelings. When you touch |
| international standards a "no-touch" society. This | | | | another person, your feelings and emotions will be |
| means we use touch very selectively, such as | | | | transferred to that other person instantly. |
| shaking hands when being introduced, or an | | | | The Fleeting Touch |
| occasional pat on the back. Such selective use of | | | | The fleeting touch is the accidental or "chance" |
| touch creates an opportunity to use this | | | | touch that is so short, people often wonder if it |
| non-verbal means of communication as a powerful | | | | happened in the first place. This can be while |
| medium to increase your appeal with someone, | | | | exchanging money, bumping into someone, |
| whether it be a person of the same or opposite | | | | handing someone a drink, etc. Even though the |
| sex. | | | | fleeting touch is short in duration, a lot of energy |
| Because We Don't Really Know... | | | | is transferred from you to the other person in |
| We go through our daily interactions with | | | | that short time and it can produce some powerful |
| strangers without really knowing how they feel | | | | positive feelings. It has the power to create |
| about us. We can't. Afterall, we are not mind | | | | strong subconscious feelings of warmth and |
| readers. It is for this reason that we tend to | | | | attraction if done genuinely. In the course of |
| keep strangers at a distance until we get to know | | | | persuasion, fleeting touches can almost always |
| them. Would it not be great if we could influence | | | | produce a positive effect if done correctly. Know |
| that behavior by letting them know how we are | | | | that the acceptable areas of touch are different |
| feeling without saying a word? Each of us has this | | | | depending on the gender of the person. Men can |
| unique gift and it comes in the form of TOUCH. | | | | touch women only on their hands and forearms, |
| Why Touch is such a Powerful Communicator of | | | | but women can touch men virtually anywhere. |
| Emotion | | | | Men can touch other men on their hands, |
| You might be surprised to know that verbal | | | | shoulders, forearm, or upper arm. Women can |
| communication plays a very small role when | | | | touch other women on their hands, forearms, |
| communicating emotion. Verbal words are great | | | | upper arms, and knees. |
| for technical things, such as giving directions or | | | | Be Careful of the Thin Line |
| instructions, but when trying to communicate how | | | | In the workplace, you must always be careful of |
| a person feels, the top two methods of | | | | using touch because of the inherent risk of sexual |
| communicating this is through the eyes and with | | | | harassment. Emotions in the workplace, although |
| touch. Think of your emotions as electricity and | | | | impossible to avoid, has always been brushed |
| your body as the power line. When you touch | | | | under the carpet. Since touch conveys so much |
| another person, that electricity flows from you to | | | | emotion and feelings, it can be mislabeled as |
| them. It's like plugging your computer into the | | | | sexual harassment and that's not something you |
| internet and downloading a software program-the | | | | want. |