The evidence that such messages can lead to clear, almost immediate changes in how people think and behave is accumulating fast. Students who received a supportive touch on the back or arm from a teacher were nearly twice as likely to volunteer in class as those who did not, studies have found. A sympathetic touch from a doctor leaves people with the impression that the visit lasted twice as long, compared with estimates from people who were untouched.Research by Tiffany Field of the Touch Research Institute in Miami has found that a massage from a loved one can not only ease pain but also soothe depression and strengthen a relationship.Psychologists have known for a long time that much of what we say to each other is communicated via nonverbal channels. What is new and what is interesting about this, however, is that this new work focuses on the actual physical touch as a medium for the transmission of emotional state.
What I find really fascinating about this kind of work is the idea that there is so much under the surface that influences us. We might not notice that someone touching us alters our perceptions of what happens. But it nonetheless might have a significant impact on the way we feel.
For one, the picture above is beautiful. Second, I also feel this is fascinating. Touch is powerful. In Chapter 6 slides, it states that touch aides in emotion and stress regulation. Kind of makes you understand when someone's had a bad day and all they want is a hug! I know that is how I can get! I am interested in the psychology of people who hate to be touched. I've gievn someone a hug before and they clearly did not want one. Why is that? How are some people so responsive, and others hate it?
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ReplyDeletei like this blog. i agree physical touch is so important to our mental health & development as human beings. this is why science baffles me when back in the day, people thought you shouldnt hold babies! or that when a baby is demanding of attention, its because the baby needs the attention. i doubt it is an infant mustering up a manipulation tactic on adults. people need physican love & closeness to feel emotionally secure. some people more then others. communication is powerful beyond the use of spoken word. body language & facial expression alone say alot! eye contact & the look in someones eyes can express more then words.
I almost 100% agree with you, Kelly. It's my nature to soothe kids, too. Yet, I'm learning there are boundaries to it.
ReplyDeleteInfants and toddlers can fuss for attention just because they want it, not because it's needed. Initial research from the University of Portsmouth has posited that babies as young as six months may fake crying and fussing or fake laughing to gain attention. They learn what lies are effective and that lying too often can decrease its effectiveness.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3298979/Babies-not-as-innocent-as-they-pretend.html
I also have an impression from Chapter 11 where it talks about infant inhibitions, that overprotectiveness including over-responsiveness to any distress shown by the infant teaches the infant that she doesn't need to learn to cope. This is also supported by research on the effectiveness of the Cry it out method of sleep training which was mentioned in the five things post on here. Not that I'd be capable of it. Oy.
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Side note: After reading the article, and blog I heard a discussion on the radio about this last night! I found the NBA touch study to be extremely interesting as well. Go Lakers and Celtics! (no wonder they're good teams-they deliver the "power of touch")
ReplyDeleteThis idea has been encouraged by my coach in volleyball. After each play ends, we are required to come together in the middle and make contact with at least one other teammate. This has strengthened a bond between many of us and has led us to trust each other both on and off of the court. We do not allow any one person to pull themselves out and not make contact because we understand that the physical contact allows us to stay invested in our other teammates and vice versa. I think it has helped to as we have been a championship team for the past 3 years!
ReplyDeleteOn a different note, after I had knee surgery at 16, my mom would place her end on my knee and encourage me to do the same. The warmth from her touch - and the love that could be felt from it - helped me to recover much faster than most other reconstructive knee surgery patients.
Touch between two people is a very powerful thing. I also wonder if it has something to do with the temperature of the person. I have noticed that people who do not want to hug or share physical contact often have colder hands and simply feel colder than those who do want any physical contact. Maybe the temperature difference is a result of differences in physical contact.
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Doesn't it all go back to the beginning as an infant? We needed to be touched and held then; without it we wouldn't survive let alone thrive. Maybe its hardwired that infants need to have the human interaction and that this hardwiring never goes away. Touch is necessary whatever our age and the impact it has is still very profound whether we're aware of it or not.
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I think that nonverbal feedback cues are about reassurance-- at least for me. I imagine that a reassuring pat from an instructor as I toil over a physics problem has the same effect that smiling or nodding students do on the instructor during lecture. To know that your efforts are being appreciated, or even applauded, does wonders for motivation, whether it's touch or other nonverbal cues. My take is that without positive reinforcement, what would seem the point? I know that in my experience, when teaching young kids how to do things like sound out words, that reinforcement is vital. Otherwise, apathy and negativity set in pretty quickly!!!
ReplyDeleteI think this also has application in the internet sphere, like in forum posts. A lot of miscommunication goes on because of lack of these cues. Hence: the emoticon! haha :)
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In response to Nick's post, I think that infant touch by an adult (Parent) is extremely important. I have talked to psychologist about this issue, for personal reasons. I was adopted at 8 months old, but prior to that I was raised in an orphanage and the nuns there said that I was very clingy and needy, I talked to a psychologist about how the lack of touch and emotional and physical need may have impacted my current state and behaviors. I have asked other adoptees if they have had similar experiences and most have had issues of abandonment, that affect current relationships they may hold. Not only do infants need it in order to survive, people at any age need to be reassured of being accepted, like a pat from a teacher, a hug from a parent, or kiss from a loved one. A person has a need to feel like they belong.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with the comments regarding 'small touches'. I agree based on the context during which the small touches occur. However we have to be very carefull of how small touches could be interpreted during a business situation.
In the context of a business situation, any small touch other than a handshake could be misinterpreted, especially when gender is also part of the equation.
A firm handshake helps make a good first impression for both males and females. A July 2000 University of Alabama study found that consistent with the etiquette and business literature, there is a substantial relationship between the features that characterize a firm handshake (strength, vigor, duration, eye contact and completeness of grip) and a favorable first impression.
A handshake is an important and consistent physical contact we have in the business world. They happen first and they set the tone for the entire relationship.
Should we now include other, "small touches" because of the research?
KSchiewe said that there is study on touch in the NBA. I was watching the blazer game the other night and it mentioned how touch helps teams win games. The teams who touch for example high five and pats on the back, the higher chance they will win because they are playing as a team. It shows that they have chemistry and passion as a team. I thought that was interesting because it does make sense. The players are showing their love and commitment to each other and the team.
ReplyDeletePersonally I believe touch has a powerful effect. I know that when I am bummed out or upset a hug can help me feel better. Sometimes when one does not want to talk. A hug or pat on the back or even holding hands can be powerful. It shows that someone cares enough to be there for you even though there is no words being spoken.
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ReplyDelete"A sympathetic touch from a doctor leaves people with the impression that the visit lasted twice as long, compared with estimates from people who were untouched"
I find this part fascinating. I always found healthcare settings to be stressful, as it meant you were usually in poor health or a love one was struggling with an illness. This apprehension was one reason why I decided to pursue a career in nursing, and one of the reasons why I'm taking this class.
As a nurse-to-be, it's important to be aware of the significance of touch. As Americans, we tend to avoid touching strangers, having a bubble around us when we walk in crowds or ride public transportation. After spending time abroad, I realized people are more comfortable with touch, with strangers, and with eye contact. It seems there is a decrease in the social acceptance of touch - especially on how we interact with teachers, co-workers, patients. We're afraid of offending or violating space (at at times this can happen!) but touch can be loving, respectful, considerate, and if these things are taken into consideration, it can lead to healthier people.
in response to clairest...
ReplyDeletei read that link & i dont doubt it at all. i know that kids are pretty darn clever little creatures. i experience daily, kids i nanny outsmarting me, B.S.-ing me, bargaining with me to get their way, using their emotions to manipulate situations...*sigh* but i struggle within myself the best/most effective way to respond to them...while maybe i want to call them out on it...i dont, i calmly, stick to the guns while still being there for them. do you have any advice or effective strategies when the little buggers behave in such ways?
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WOW! this is very interesting. I read a similar study on touch. It said that people who were touched by a person who was asking them to do something were more likely to comply with the command given to than people who were not touched.
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Kjerstin Brinton 949755807
ReplyDeleteI also found this blog post fascinating as the importance of "touch" has been so influential in my life. I have noticed many times throughout my life where a positive pat on the back, a hug, or a even a nice massage can be so important for strengthening relationships. For me, touch has played an integral part in my upbringing. I agree that touch is vital to a baby's proper nurturing, and I also feel that this idea can and should continue throughout the lifespan. There is something so powerful about touch that effects all of us deep within ourselves. It is something we yearn for, something that we need to successfully survive. Young children and adults alike consciously and subconsciously need some form of nurturing and support through physical touch. For me, a hug or a back rub can do amazing things for my emotional and physical well-being. I become a happier person without even realizing it!
I am, however, very interested in the comment made by KSchiewe about people who are opposed to being touched. Is there some form of insecurity at play or past negative experience that has caused them to feel this way? It seems that the need for touch should be something innate for all people, but is that a cultural idea? Time for some research!
I agree with how important touch can be in noverbal communication. How many times in life, whether the situation was positive or negative, did we give a "high five", hug, or simply hold someone's hand in place of using words. We are not born with the ability to speak but DO have the ability to touch and that is the most innate ability we have as humans.
ReplyDeleteEven if you were to look at animals and the way they communicate, one would see that most of it is by touch. In response to one of the above posts, it would be intersting to see why some people have such negative responses to touch and if past traumatic experiences are to blame.
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Touch is powerful indeed. I work in a mental hospital and notice that when patients are agitated a slight touch on the back or arm often helps them gather their thoughts to calm down. One of our “old school” nurses said in the ‘60s and ‘70s medical professionals were more hands on with the patients. Nurses would often give daily massages to patients no matter what their condition and stated that it usually sped up the recovery process. Now, it’s pretty much considered inappropriate to touch a patient other than a slight touch or to gather clinical information. Even in my personal life, a light grasp of my arm from someone lets me know they are listening and/or empathetic.
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I would be very interested to know if there were differences in the results of studies done such as these in different countries. You could argue that in America we tend to be pretty physically deprived. We're physically close with our partners perhaps, but not in general. Other countries are much more tend to have more physical friendships. I wonder if the strong reaction people have to a pat on the arm or a touch by a doctor might be because we're starved for physical affection? Do people in touchy feely homes respond more or less to the touch of a teacher? If our needs for physical touch were fully met elsewhere would we respond in the same way to
ReplyDeletea passing touch? Hm. Student id 915383501
So true about Americans being physically deprived, or at least weird about physical contact. When I was in India, physical friendships were completely reversed from how they are here. Men would walk around holding hands with one another, but men and women weren't allowed to touch at all. It seems odd that you can quantify the effects of physical contact because it seems to vary so much from culture to culture.
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I agree with this idea of the power of touch. I recently read an article I would like to share. It is called "The Power of Touch" Here is the link. http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-power-of-touch/#more-12631. In this article it explains that if you have the presence of touch in your life you will live longer...Go give someone a hug!
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