Why does it feel so different when you touch yourself and when someone else touches you?

Question

It feels so different for when people touch me compared to my own touch. Even simple stuff like someone grabbing my wrist, or grazing my skin or even tickling all feels completely different when someone else does it to me. Is there a reason for this or is that more personal?

In: Biology

Answer 1

When someone else touches you, you experience a sensation only from that touch.

When you touch yourself, you experience a sensation from where you are touched and from where you are touching. Also, you have foreknowledge about where and how you’re going to experience that sensation.