Touching is an essential part of social interaction. People can hardly exist without making contact with one another. Touching by itself is a form of communication. It is used to communicate the feeling of affection between lovers. Touching is also evident in primates. Touch their youngsters to protect them from danger and show them affection. Similarly, human beings touch their young ones to provide support and protection. Touching among human beings is governed by socially construed rules of conduct. If done improperly, it would amount to sexual assault or infringement to someone’s privacy.
Touching between an adult and a five year old is limited to protection from danger and show of affection. Only parents are given exclusive right to make contact with their child. Touching can happen when the mother or the father is carrying the five year old. Strangers are not allowed to make contact with a youngster except when helping the child from danger. On normal occasions, the child will reject the encroachment into his or her personal space by crying.
Touching between an adult and a twelve year old is limited. By this time in the development of the child, secondary sexual characteristics have already started developing in the majority of the 12 years old. Touching is limited to the hands while shaking hands or the shoulders while tapping with an intention to communicate. Good friends, however, can touch one another without the limitation of socially construed rules of contact. They are free with one another and the personal distance between them is smaller compared to strangers. If the two friends are lovers, touching is not limited by the socially construed rules at all but the preferences of the individual. Touching between an employee and the employer is limited to shaking hands. The official nature of their interaction does not allow the free contact between them. Employees are very cautious to avoid charges of sexual harassment.
Touching is governed by socially construed rules that determine when and how touching has to occur. Any deviation from the expected rules and regulation is considered as an anathema. Touching has to be done in a cautious way to avoid the prosecution for sexual harassment or intrusion into someone’s privacy.
References
Clarke, D. (2011). Pro-Social and Anti-Social Behaviour. New York: Routledge.
Smith, J. (2011). The Etiquette Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Manners. New York: Sterling Publishing Company Incorporated.
Sofsky, W. (2008). Privacy: A Manifesto. Boston: Princeton University Press.
Storm, B. (2012). Business Professionalism: A Blueprint to Help Managers and Employees Analyze, Equip, Plan, and Succeed in the Workplace. New York: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
