The Psychology of Touch Posted by Ali Goldfield on Sunday, February 19th 2012: "From the moment we are born, we crave human touch. We could not exist without this most basic human need everyone desires. Touch can be conveyed in many different ways and at many different levels. From a simple handshake, to a gentle caress to an intimate embrace, there are many different ways that people perceive and experience touch "Research shows that a hug from a loved one can lower your blood pressure and increase your sense of well-being. A handshake with a colleague can create a connection and even an aggressive or painful touch can provide us with information about our environment to cause discomfort, rather than reassurance. Touch is a vital way in which we understand our world around us. It can affect us physiologically, emotionally, psychologically and intellectually. Touch is the most primitive of all sensations and the only one of the five senses that involves the whole body. To Touch Or Not To Touch "Dr. Harry Harlow made waves with his research on touch deprivation in young monkeys. Harlow demonstrated that infant macaque monkeys formed attachment to a mother doll that was covered in soft cloth, but not to one that was made of wire mesh. The monkeys chose the soft over the hard “mother” even when the latter was the one that offered them food. Harlow’s theory was that the effect was due to the importance of physical contact between mother and child in generating feelings of security. When they are secure, an animal is more likely to explore his environment and to engage with unfamiliar surroundings. Without touch and security, the opposite happens: an infant, whether monkey or human, becomes more fearful and withdrawn. "Other studies done have shown the positive effects of massage on premature infants. Preemies who received infant massage 3 times a day for 10 days gained 47% more weight, were more alert and responsive than those not massaged. In 1995, the story of Brielle and Kyrie Jackson made history when the tiny premature twins were immediately separated after birth. Brielle’s health was failing and she was in danger of dying and it wasn’t until they were placed together in one incubator and Kyrie threw her arm over her sister, that Brielle’s heart rate and breathing normalized and the two went on to thrive and do well." therapystew/psychology-of-touch/
Posted on: Sat, 10 Aug 2013 22:36:51 +0000
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