|
|
| Is a pat on back a way to stall aggression? |
| By Knight Ridder Wire |
| Published: 02/16/2004 |
|
Studies by the University of Miami's Touch Research Institute have shown touch can reduce adolescent pain and stress hormones, alleviate symptoms of depression and help premature infants gain weight, among other benefits. Though psychologists and school counselors say that there are significant barriers to a large-scale shift in how Americans view touch, they stress that a change is in place. One repercussion of the lack of human touch could be increased aggression. Anthropological studies have documented that primitive cultures with less affectionate touch are more violent than geographically close cultures with more touching. Studies compared preschool children in France with children in Miami and found that U.S. children touched less and were more aggressive. Field's researchers also recorded differences in touch among French and American adolescents hanging out at McDonald's. The 20 high school seniors observed in Paris spent more time touching casually-rubbing each other's backs while talking, for instance. In contrast, those in Miami kept their hands occupied with '"self-stimulation,'" like playing with the rings on their fingers, cracking their knuckles and twirling their hair. The Americans were also more likely to hit, push or knock each other down. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think