What makes a person want to reach out and touch someone?

Question

i'm not the touchy feely type of person for a few reasons, but someone i saw/met for the 2nd time allowed me to go through the door before them and then when i felt like i was far enough away from them i felt their hand touch my back and apparently they kept walking with me to the point they were right up on me. really, there was no need for him to touch me. so was he trying to do this to be affectionate towards me? what he trying to connect with me in the smallest way? i thought it was a nice gesture on his part even though i didn't feel like it was necessary.

Answer 1

It would help to know a little more about the people and location involved.  Im guessing this guy or man is about your age.

It may be a very mannerly "come on" gesture, or he could just be one of those people who likes to make people feel acknowledged.

There is a certain about of sleeze factor we dont know.  

If the guy seemed pretty innocent in doing it, he's probably just a warm and caring person..say like a church usher.

   If he's a cad, you'll be getting further notice and gestures... I'd think.

Where was this ?    Have you had conversations ?

Answer 2

He was assisting you through the door. It is considered by some to be good manners and if they were raised right to allow a woman (yes I am being sexist) to enter before them because they are female. He then continued to assist you as he has most probably been taught to do. In this day and age we do not teach our young males to assist women in this way but anyone born before 1964 was most probably and normally raised this way. My hubby was born in 1960 and would kill himself to open a door for a woman and he INSISTS on opening my car door to get me in and out of the car-and walking to the outside when we are on a street.

To some men it is not weird- but polite.

Answer 3

Do you or would you touch a nasty person? Most likely not. Guys wouldn't either. He likes you, so yes, a small gesture of that.

I help you out a little bit further since you placed this in social science. There is the theory of social exchange. Social exchange theory states that everything is done conditionally. By condition I mean pay-off. Men are motivated to listen to our c**p, entertain our thoughts and feelings all for the main objective to have s*x. Even parents are conditional. If you do heroin and rob banks they'll probably not want anything to do with you. You have to get good grades and work to earn money to support them someday so it is conditional. Even charity is conditional. Doing a good act is mainly done for feeling better - not true helping. Donations are made for tax deductions, not the good of heart. Everything has a cost so to speak. Boys are the same so beware.