Scientist reveals the surprising reason why so many young men put their hands down their trousers

You’ve likely spotted them on the bus, boarding the train and even walking down the street.

Young men with their hands down their trousers, acting as if this is a normal thing to do.

The phenomenon has even made it into pop music lyrics, with Bruno Mars singing ‘throw my hand down my pants’ in his 2010 hit single The Lazy Song.

The habit is undoubtedly offputting, so you might have wondered why it has become a national obsession.

Now, a body language expert has revealed the reasons behind the trend – and it’s all to do with nervous energy.

‘This could be a displacement activity to process the nervous energy,’ Martin Brooks, a performance coach and author of Body Language Decoder, told The Times.

‘Additionally, oxytocin is the love hormone released through physical contact. Sometimes people will do things like stroke their beard to self–comfort.

‘This curious public activity could be a strange combination of displacement and self–comforting behaviour.’

Tom Hardy has previously been pictured with his hands down his trousers during a walk with his wife Charlotte Riley

Game Of Thrones star Kit Harrington has previously been pictured in an awkward position, with his arm down his trousers in an attempt to deal with whatever issue was aggravating him

Some well–known faces to have adopted the practice include actor Tom Hardy, who has previously been pictured with his hands down his tracksuit trousers during a walk.

British rapper Central Cee once posed on the red carpet at The Fashion Awards in 2022 with both hands down his pants.

Game of Throne star Kit Harrington has also been photographed in an awkward pose, with much of his arm down his trousers. 

Mr Brooks also believes the habit could be linked to a change in ‘societal norms’, where young men are ‘drawing attention to their masculinity in new ways’.

Rebellion may also play a part, he added, saying: ‘Previously people smoked and it was not necessarily because they liked it – I didn’t – but it is a way of telling older people, “I’ll do what I like”.’

Darren Stanton, a behavioural expert and former police officer, said Covid changed the goalposts on what is deemed ‘acceptable’ in public.

Now, going to the supermarket in pyjamas is seen as normal, he explained.

Dr Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent, agreed, adding: ‘I believe that they do it for comfort and to show that they are at ease with their sexual stuff.

British rapper Central Cee posed on the red carpet at The Fashion Awards in 2022 with both hands down his pants

‘Now there is less pressure to keep your hands out of your pants.’ 

Other experts to have previously addressed the phenomenon include Dr Babak Ashrafi, a Superdrug online doctor specialising in sexual health.

‘The act of men putting their hands down their pants can have various reasons, and it’s important to note that not all instances of this behaviour are related to medical issues,’ he told Cosmopolitan.

These include adjusting genitalia for comfort, itching caused by fungal infections or irritation, or temperature regulation.

Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, boredom or habit can also lead to this behaviour, Dr Ashrafi explained.

‘Some men may engage in this behaviour absentmindedly or as a coping mechanism,’ he said. 

‘Rubbing certain parts of your body in a non–sexual way releases oxytocin, a calming hormone which reduces nerves.’

Why do young men put their hands down their trousers?

• A ‘displacement activity’ to dispel nervous energy
• Drawing attention to masculinity
• Rebellion – a way of telling people ‘I’ll do what I like’
• Adjusting genitalia for comfort
• Boredom or habit
• To release the calming hormone oxytocin 

 The habit could be linked to a change in ‘societal norms’, where young men are ‘drawing attention to their masculinity in new ways’ (stock image)

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