Physical intimacy in increasing degree o.O

i found this out on a website when i googled for the difference between a hug and cuddle. it turns out that there is a different degree of physical intimacy and they actually arrange it in ascending order o.O

Physical intimacy in increasing degree is:

* physical closeness
* touching, especially tenderly, e.g.
* holding hands
* hugging: gently enclosing the arms around the trunk of each other
* sitting or lying against each other
* caressing: gently stroking body parts or hair with a hand
* cuddling
* back rub and massage
* kissing
* touching intimate parts, outercourse
* sexual penetration

Sexual behaviour 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).

Physical closeness may also be involuntary, 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.

adapted from http://knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/

p.s. do you know that there is a International Hug Day which falls on 4 December? x)