Sexual communication is not confined to words. Sometimes a touch or a smile can convey a great deal of information. Tone of voice, gestures, facial expressions, and changes in breathing are also important elements of such communication:
Sometimes when I want my lover to touch me in a certain place, I move that portion of my body closer to his hands or just shift my position to make the area more accessible. Occasionally, I will guide his hand with mine to show him just what kind of stimulation I want. (Authors’ files)
These examples reveal some of the varieties of nonverbal communication that have particular significance for our sexuality. One recent study of young couples in committed relationships found that nonverbal initiation of sexual activity was more common than verbal initiations (Vannier & O’Sullivan, 2010). In this section we direct our attention to four important components of nonverbal sexual communication: facial expressions, interpersonal distance, touching, and sounds.