Why do massages feel good, but not as much when doing it to yourself?

Question

Even if it’s objectively not as good, it still feels better when another person does it. Why?

In: 121

Answer 1

For me it’s because when someone else is massaging me there’s a little element of “surprise”. You don’t know where they’re going to rub next and when they hit the right spot it just feels amazing. If I’m massaging myself I know what’s coming up and it still helps release muscle tension, but it doesn’t “hit” the same when someone else is doing it.