Two experiments tested the hypothesis that apparent length of the partially outstretched arm (1) shrinks when the fingertips of the passive hand are touched by an object and (2) increases when the fingertips of the hand touch an external, stationary object. Experiment 1 involved nominal judgments regarding which of two outstretched arms, each involved in a different type of contact, was longer. Experiment 2 used a single outstretched arm and involved interval scale measurements. Results, which supported the hypothesis, were interpreted as reflecting effects of the directionality of action (away from the person who is actively directed toward touching an object vs. toward the person who is passive and being touched) involved in the hand-object contact.