ON 9 MARCH, Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, called a press conference to discuss his country's response to the covid-19 pandemic. "From now on, we stop shaking hands," he declared -before promptly reaching out his hand to greet an expert on infectious diseases. Many of us can empathise. Social distancing sounds innocuous, but this year we have discovered how hard it can be in practice. Touchy-feely greetings, such as handshakes, hugs, kisses and nose rubbing, are deeply embedded in many cultures. These gestures aren't merely learned, however. Look to the animal kingdom and you will see that many species - especially highly social ones - perform physical rituals when they approach each other. If our urges to touch one another in greeting seem instinctual, it is because they are.
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