The Five Love Languages: Physical Touch and Closeness

The Five Love Languages are a set of interaction characteristics defined by Gary Chapman. They embody the idea that people communicate love and affection for each other through different means, specifically: Quality Time, Physical Touch and Closeness, Words of Encouragement, Gift Giving, and Acts of Service. These five love languages are recognized at different levels by individual people. Some people have a primary love language of Gift Giving, while others have a primary love language of Quality Time. It is important to recognize that different people express their love and affection through different love languages, and that they recognize and feel love and affection by the same languages. Occasionally, someone will have more than one primary love language.

Physical Touch and Closeness. Physical Touch and Closeness is one love language, which can represent itself in two forms: 1. Actual physical touching and 2., Simply being in the same room or physically near to the person in question. Closeness means physical distance, not emotional involvement, so try not to confuse the two.

How to Recognize It. When someone is engaging in physical touch, they spend a great deal of time hugging you, touching your arm, patting you on your back, shaking your hand, anything to be able to touch you without being inappropriate.

Closeness involves being within a small approximate distance from you. If you are working in the garden, they may come outside and do something near the garden. If you are cooking in the kitchen, they may find something to do in or near the kitchen area, so that they can be near to you.

How to Employ It. If your partner seems to give and recognize love through Physical Touch and Closeness, then you must learn how to employ this love language quickly, so that they can begin feeling the vast amount of affection you hold for them. If they are spending time in one room, move your work to that room and be near them. Do this often. If they are talking to you or sitting in an easily accessible area, stand near them and touch their shoulder, back, arm, give them backrubs, etc. Do what you can to make them feel loved by through touch and nearness.

Physical Touch and Closeness is one of the five primary love languages which someone may have. It is important to respond in kind and give them as much expression of your love as they give to you.