system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:Why does it feel better when somebody else rubs us, scratches us, etc. as opposed to when we do it ourselves?
gpt
When you touch yourself the wiring in your brain already anticipates that movement/action as well as the brain is telling the person's hand or foot to make the movement that leads to touch. When these movements are anticipated due to the same thing happening everyday for years and are simultaneously done together (both movement and the result of touching) it has a different feel then when someone else touches you. Here is why:

When a person experiences touch, two copies of this information are sent; one that enables the person's body to move and the other where the person experiences the touch. Because this happens all the time, there is no 'surprise' with the action and it is a coordinated effort, meaning movement must be performed followed by a touch. However, when someone touches that person, there are no planned responses to the stimulation and the person being touched experiences that much more stimulation because it is new. 

You can get a similar, but less pronounced effect when you numb your hand while sitting on it, and then touching your skin. Since the nerves are numbed and are not signaling the brain as quickly, there is a slight surprise and thus increase stimulation.