Signs Of Physical Touch As Love Language, Not Just Related To Sexual Activity

Illustration of physical touch as love language (iStockphoto)

YOGYAKARTA – Physical touch is one of the love languages. This intimate activity, actually not only with sexual intercourse. However, direct intimacy is a love language that is woven with physical touch.

Physical touch refers to ways of expressing and receiving affection through touch, physical closeness, and other forms of physical connection. For example, hugging, kissing, holding hands, and making love. Launching Mind Body Green, Monday, July 25, specifically, touch as a love language is interpreted as a small physical movement as well. For example, embracing your partner in public, snuggling close to you while watching TV together, and more importantly than giving gifts or saying 'I love you'.

According to licensed marriage and family therapist, Kiaundra Jackson, LMFT., there are physiological reasons why physical touch is so pleasurable. He said skin-to-skin contact triggers the release of certain hormones associated with pleasure and bonding.

"If someone's love language is physical touch, they may not know it, but they enjoy the release of our body's 'feel good hormones' like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin," Jackson explains.

Illustration of physical touch as love language (iStockphoto)

Oxytocin is known as the bonding hormone. This hormone is the same as that released between a newborn baby and its mother. Therefore skin-to-skin contact is highly recommended for bonding after delivery.

Signs of physical touch as a love language include the following:

You like to be in a 'touching' relationship, such as frequent hugs, embracing, and other things related to physical touch. Receiving spontaneous or random kisses, on the lips, forehead, and cheeks spontaneously makes you feel loved. You feel very sweet and meaningful when your partner wants to cuddle with you. Physical gestures like holding hands and resting your head on your shoulder are favorite little things in relationships. Likes to give and receive signs of affection with small touches in public. Feels weird sitting next to each other but doesn't touch it in a certain way. Receiving a very long, warm hug makes you feel like your partner really cares about you.

Like the sign above, physical touch as a love language is not only about sex. According to psychotherapist Rhonda Richards-Smith, LSCW., when you hear that someone's love language is physical touch, it's easy to assume that this means sexual touch, but that's not necessarily the case.

"If you find your partner's touch soothing, relaxing, and giving you the extra push you need, it's likely that physical touch is one of your love languages," says Smith.

Jackson adds, “Physical touch can include sex, but it doesn't have to. If you want more sex, just say so. If you want something else and not just sex, say so."

Indirectly, Jackson pointed to the way couples communicate. Although physical touch is a non-verbal way of communicating, it is still important to communicate assertively with verbal language.

It is important to note and practice, pay attention to consent. Practice the act of physical touch as a love language only when the recipient has conveyed that the action is wanted and accepted.