Episode 202: Why Touch Is So Important In Relationships
June 30, 2023 by Justin Lehmiller
One of the keys to maintaining healthy, long-term romantic relationships is physical intimacy. I’m not just talking about sex, though. For many reasons, non-sexual physical intimacy is just as important, if not more so. In today’s show, we’re going to do a deep dive into why touch is so powerful, as well as why affectionate touch is one of the best ways to initiate sex and to have great sex. We’re also going to explore practical tips for bringing more touch into your relationships.
I am joined by Dr. Michael Banissy, an award-winning Professor in Social Neuroscience and a science communicator. He has received multiple prizes for his contributions to Psychological Science, including a medal from the British Psychological Society. Touch Matters: Handshakes, Hugs, and the New Science on How Touch Can Enhance Your Well-Being is his first book (note that in the UK, his book is titled When We Touch).
Some of the topics we discuss in this episode include:
- Why is kissing such an important part of intimate touch?
- How does culture influence our preferred forms of intimate touch?
- How and why is hugging beneficial for our relationships?
- Why is touch so important during sexual initiation?
- How can physical affection help to unlock the benefits of sex on our well-being?
- What does it mean to “make affection, not love?”
Make sure to check out Michael’s website to learn more, and connect with him on Twitter and Instagram.
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Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.
Dr. Justin Lehmiller
Founder & Owner of Sex and PsychologyDr. Justin Lehmiller is a social psychologist and Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute. He runs the Sex and Psychology blog and podcast and is author of the popular book Tell Me What You Want. Dr. Lehmiller is an award-winning educator, and a prolific researcher who has published more than 50 academic works.
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