ABSTRACT
Of all the primary emotions, sex is the most difficult one to talk about. It may cause more people more sadness, embarrassment, and ill feeling than almost any other facet of life. The Jansenists influenced the Irish, and Irish priests have strongly influenced American Catholics. Thus puritan traditions have influenced many Americans. Major changes in American values came in the 1920s after an unimaginably horrible war in which our society and also many European societies were said to have lost their innocence. World War II took men away, and women gravitated into virtually every job that men had been doing. The war years were a very sad and lonesome time for many people. Touch is probably the most important way to send critically important messages to people about whom we care and to receive their replies. About half the battle of getting and giving satisfying touch is in setting the climate for it.
