Physical intimacy in increasing degree is:
Sexual behavior involves physical intimacy. A personal relationship that does not involve sexual behavior, e.g. friendship, may involve physical intimacy. This varies greatly. In western culture it is often more among female than among male friends; the latter may want to avoid associations with homosexuality. In other cultures, such as Arab culture, men may hold hands with no implication of homosexuality.
A man and a woman who are friends may avoid physical intimacy to avoid associations with sexuality (for example if one or both have a relationship with someone else, see also Jealousy).
Physical closeness may also be unvoluntary, as in a crowded train or elevator.
An intermediate form of voluntariness is when one goes to a crowded place for entertainment: a bar, disco, pop concert[?], street festival[?], etc.
International Hug Day is on 4 December.
See also Kruibeke.
Physical intimacy between a human and an animal may involve caressing, hugging and playing.
Also a person, especially a child, may caress and hug a teddy bear or doll. There are also sex dolls, as a surrogate for a person.
Other kinds of intimacy are:
- emotional intimacy: telling about emotions, knowing and feeling what the other feels
- financial unity, sharing property, community-property
