Long before the child has developed language he learns to communicate through tactile contact. However there is lot of cultural difference between interpreting this cue. Women are more receptive in distinguishing touch that reflects warmth and the touch that expresses sexual desire while men are not very sensitive to touch. The touch is interpreted positively if the toucher is a high status person. Women friends touch each other more frequently.
Older people initiate touch towards younger people more frequently.
It is also observed that females are more touched by than the men and the men are more likely to initiate touch with women than women are with men. Whatever is a friendly gesture in one country may be very obscene in other. Learning culture appropriate gestures before planning any business visit to other country thus proves essential. Gestures and posture reflect intimacy and nature of relationship. Friends sit next to each other while competitors face each other.