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The right way to caress your partner
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In a piece published for Slate, Linden wrote the correct way to caress your partner is to lightly rub the hairy parts of his or her skin, where caress-sensing fibers are found, he wrote, and move your hand one inch every second with a little force. - photo by Herb Scribner
Caressing your partner, whether its his or her hands, arms or back, is a romantic and intimate gesture. And author David J. Linden has a few tips to help you do it right.

In a piece published for Slate, Linden wrote the correct way to caress your partner is to lightly rub the hairy parts of his or her skin, where caress-sensing fibers are found, he wrote, and move your hand one inch every second with a little force.

Linden said its important for couples to caress correctly because it makes each partner feel safe and secure with the relationship and each other.

With a stroke of the hand, he or she wishes to convey an ancient and deeply human message: You are cared for, you are safe, Linden wrote. But what makes for a meaningful loving touch? Is it something baked into the structure and function of our skin, nerves, and brain, or the result or our culturally constructed individual life histories, or some interaction between the two?

Linden expands on this idea in his new book, Touch: The Science of Hand, Heart and Mind, which was published in January. Linden also talks about the importance of other forms of touch in his book, like hugging, kissing and holding hands, which can also say something about your relationship.

According to an article I wrote, the way you hold hands with your partner can reveal how dominant your are in your relationship. Men typically place their hand on top of their partner's, which is a sign to observers that the man is more dominant. Women, who usually place their hand under their man's, put their hand on top when walking with a child, according to research cited in my article.

Theres also a right way to cuddle for couples. According to an article I wrote, couples who cuddle with each other in bed report being happier than those who dont. But all married couples dont sleep together, or, if they do, dont cuddle up with each other. Some partners disturb their significant others sleep because of snoring, sounds or movements, which can damage ones sleep patterns and create problems in a relationship.