Holding hands
Encyclopedia
Holding hands is a form of physical intimacy
involving two or more people. It may or may not be sexual.
Whether friends hold hands depends on culture
and gender
: in the Western culture this is mainly done by women and small children (sometimes for authoritative control, not affection), spouses and romantic couples. In Arab countries, Africa
and some parts of Asia it is done also by men and/or boys for friendship
and/or a sign of respect. It is also fairly common to see teenage girls holding hands as a sign of friendship, though the same does not often apply for teenage boys.
The custom of men holding hands can cause discomfort in societies unused to it, as it did with Americans, when, in 2005, then Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
held hands in public with then American president George W Bush.
People hold each others hands, or one person takes the hand of another person for the following reasons or purposes:
Physical intimacy
Physical intimacy is sensual proximity or touching. It can be enjoyed by itself or be an expression of feelings which people have for one another...
involving two or more people. It may or may not be sexual.
Whether friends hold hands depends on culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
and gender
Gender role
Gender roles refer to the set of social and behavioral norms that are considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex in the context of a specific culture, which differ widely between cultures and over time...
: in the Western culture this is mainly done by women and small children (sometimes for authoritative control, not affection), spouses and romantic couples. In Arab countries, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and some parts of Asia it is done also by men and/or boys for friendship
Friendship
Friendship is a form of interpersonal relationship generally considered to be closer than association, although there is a range of degrees of intimacy in both friendships and associations. Friendship and association are often thought of as spanning across the same continuum...
and/or a sign of respect. It is also fairly common to see teenage girls holding hands as a sign of friendship, though the same does not often apply for teenage boys.
The custom of men holding hands can cause discomfort in societies unused to it, as it did with Americans, when, in 2005, then Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the King of Saudi Arabia. He succeeded to the throne on 1 August 2005 upon the death of his half-brother, King Fahd. When Crown Prince, he governed Saudi Arabia as regent from 1998 to 2005...
held hands in public with then American president George W Bush.
People hold each others hands, or one person takes the hand of another person for the following reasons or purposes:
- in various rituals:
- handshakeHandshakeA handshake is a short ritual in which two people grasp one of each other's like hands, in most cases accompanied by a brief up and down movement of the grasped hands.-History:...
- in certain religious services, to prayPrayerPrayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
- in various religious rituals
- handshake
- to express friendshipFriendshipFriendship is a form of interpersonal relationship generally considered to be closer than association, although there is a range of degrees of intimacy in both friendships and associations. Friendship and association are often thought of as spanning across the same continuum...
or loveLoveLove is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels... - to enjoy physical intimacyPhysical intimacyPhysical intimacy is sensual proximity or touching. It can be enjoyed by itself or be an expression of feelings which people have for one another...
(not necessarily of erotic character) - for emotionEmotionEmotion is a complex psychophysiological experience of an individual's state of mind as interacting with biochemical and environmental influences. In humans, emotion fundamentally involves "physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experience." Emotion is associated with mood,...
al support - to guide (a child, a blind person, in darkness, etc.)
- to urge to follow
- to keep together (in a crowd or in darkness)
- to help the other walk, stand or climb up
- to danceDanceDance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
- to maintain one's balance
- to arm wrestleArm wrestlingArm wrestling is a sport with two participants. Each participant places one arm on a surface with their elbows bent and touching the surface, and they grip each other's hand...
- for safety when crossing the street
- while sky diving
- to rescue in a dangerous situation by pulling someone to safety
- to compare size or shape of another's hand
See also
- Physical intimacyPhysical intimacyPhysical intimacy is sensual proximity or touching. It can be enjoyed by itself or be an expression of feelings which people have for one another...
- Public display of affectionPublic display of affectionPublic displays of affection are acts of physical intimacy in the view of others. What are acceptable displays of affection vary between cultures as well as to time and context. Which acts are acceptable have also varied over time...
- Human chainHuman chainA human chain is a form of demonstration in which people link their arms as a show of political solidarity.The number of demonstrators involved in a human chain is often disputed; the organizers of the human chain often report higher numbers than governmental authorities.Notable human chains, in...