Touch can also be reassuring and calming for a person in distress, since it can communicate an offer of support and empathy.Ī study from Sweden - the findings of which were published last year in the journal Research on Language and Social Interaction - found that embracing and patting children in distress has a soothing effect for them. Touching, and being touched, activate particular areas of our brain, thus influencing our thought processes, reactions, and even physiological responses.įor example, one study reports that brain scans have revealed that affective touch activates the orbitofrontal cortex, a brain region associated with learning and decision-making as well as with emotional and social behaviors.Ĭertain experiments have also suggested that romantic kissing is an important tool - particularly for women - when it comes to choosing a partner, because the personalized chemical cocktail found in an individual’s saliva conveys important information to the brain about their physiological compatibility. Share on Pinterest Touch is a vital social cue, signaling an offer of comfort and empathy. In this Spotlight feature, we will look at the importance and benefits of touching, hugging, and kissing for a person’s health and well-being.
For instance, they note that “cultural differences can result in touch being construed as a breach of preferred interpersonal distance.”Īt the same time, research has also found that touch is important for humans when it comes to communicating emotions and maintaining relationships - both romantic and otherwise. “Touch does not universally lead to positive emotions,” they explain. Between strangers, it can be an act of violation.Īs researchers from Finland noted in a study paper published last year, whether touch produces a positive or a negative effect is highly dependent on the context in which it occurs. Of course, physical touch is not always welcome and not always appropriate. Recently, however, some experts have expressed concern that Western societies are experiencing a moment of crisis, as physical touch becomes more strictly regulated and we are less and less likely to engage in social acts such as hugging. Various cultures use touch in various ways to display tenderness or respect, and other non-human primates use it to create a connection and establish social hierarchies. We seek affection, try to establish a connection, or attempt to communicate a need. When we touch, hug, or kiss a friend or partner, that gesture is loaded with meaning.
Share on Pinterest What are the benefits of affective touch? In this Spotlight, we investigate.
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