Body Map of Where to Touch a Woman
Oxford University creates body map showing where people feel comfortable being touched depending how well they know them
The research is part of a new report from Oxford University and is the biggest ever study conducted into physical contact
A new study has found that people are touchy about having any physical contact with a stranger - apart from their hands.
This means rather than going in for a friendly hug or kiss on the cheek, it's best to stick to a handshake when meeting someone for the first time.
It found that both men and women aren't comfortable with being touched anywhere apart from their hands.
Even someone touching their arm flags up warning signs for most, and the legs and torso are a no-go zone for anyone they don't know.
Researchers from Oxford University and Finland's Aalto University asked 1300 people from the UK, Russia, France, Italy and Finland where they did and didn't like to be touched.
Evolutionary psychologist Professor Robin Dunbar, who led the study, said that although kissing at first meeting was now socially acceptable, people will often adopt an 'arm hold' manoeuvre to make the practice less alarming.
Image:
pnas.org)He said: "Most people will put their hand on the arm of the person as a braking mechanism and to let the other person known that they are not about to chomp them."
The study produced a map of their results with colour coded signals pointing to where it's appropriate to touch.
They were asked to colour in a body depending on who the person is, ranging from partner to stranger.
This was turned into an average guide to help demonstrate how to approach strangers.
In recent years, influences from other parts of Europe have made it fashionable to greet someone with a kiss on the cheek.
But judging by the map, women feel very uncomfortable with their face being touched - and for men it's even worse.
Image:
Getty)Women were happy to be touched anywhere by their partner, whereas men were a little more wary of being touched on their torso and legs by theirs.
For men, it was a complete taboo to touch their private areas by anyone apart from their partner.
But women weren't as concerned with female friends and family members touching theirs - though it was still flagged as inappropriate.
Unexpectedly Italians were less comfortable with being touched than Russians, while overall Finns were the most comfortable.
Researcher Julia Suvilehto from Aalto University said: "The results indicate that touching is an important means of maintaining social relationships.
"The touch space map is closely associated with the pleasure caused by touching.
"The greater the pleasure caused by touching a specific area of the body, the more selectively we allow others to touch it."
poll loading
Would you let somebody you didn't know hug you?
0+ VOTES SO FAR
Body Map of Where to Touch a Woman
Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/oxford-university-creates-body-map-6713956
0 Response to "Body Map of Where to Touch a Woman"
Post a Comment