PH
Feeling understood by a partner doesn't only affect emotional intimacy.
Research involving romantic couples found that when people perceived their partner as more responsive—meaning caring, understanding, and validating—they tended to show more affectionate touch.
This included naturally occurring behaviors such as touching and kissing.
Daily data also showed that greater perceived responsiveness was associated with more affectionate touch on the same day.
Interestingly, affectionate touch could then contribute to the partner perceiving the person as more responsive the following day.
Emotional responsiveness and physical affection may therefore reinforce each other.
© Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin