"PHYSICAL touch is sometime that i haven't really thought about much before the pandemic, but after EVERYTHING, i haven't not though about it at least once." Bryson Saunders-beckles, grade 11
Physical contact is one of the most underappreciated aspects of the human experience, though its importance within culture has recently skyrocketed with recent events with the pandemic.. It’s one of those things that goes unnoticed in most areas of our lives, but contains prevalence across all kinds of media and visual culture. Holding hands, kissing, and hugs among others can sometimes be the utmost significant moment in a story. I always loved hugs in particular, mostly for how platonically intimate they are. And I’m not alone in my enjoyment of physical contact: it is pretty much built into human physiology.
According to an article from Psychology Today, physical contact is something that humans need in order to function. It’s essential to the development of babies and young children. Lack of contact with another human being has been correlated to immune system disorders, anxiety, and depression. Research on this was seen in Harry Harlow's monkey experiments from throughout the 1950’s because of their similarities to humans. He was a scientist who wanted to do research on monkeys as a way to learn more about the way physical touch and intimacy related to humans, using monkeys. He was a psychologist who studied at Stanford University after a year at Reed College. The nature of his experiments stuck closely with empathy and studies of depression and emotions. Most of his experiments are nowadays famous for their excessive cruelty and often questionable methods, with even his cohorts looking at or back on it with disdain and horror.
The baby monkeys in his experiments were given fake mothers to receive love from. Mother 1 was soft and comforting, but had little to no food whatsoever. Mother 2 was rough and made of wires, but had more food. The monkeys did go to Mother 2 for food, but most of their time was spent cuddling with Mother 1, even though neither could return affection. As far as experiments went, it’s the kind of thing that would probably not fly today because of how inhumane it is. It did, however, prove without a shadow of a doubt physical touch and intimacy were essential to the developments and monkeys and thus, by extension, humans in Harlow’s eyes.
The latter part was undoubtedly true; the part about humans. Hands On Research: The Science of Touch showed that during growth and development, orphans who aren’t often hugged or given physical affection as much as their orphaned peers tend to have less weight and height (Though this way be a matter of correlation vs causation in the studies.) The Power of Touch: Physical Affection is Important in Relationships, but Some People Need More Than Others brings up the fact that couple who engage in non-sexual physical contact appear happier based on their research and goes into depth about the different results and alternative options for ways to physically connect if the couples he talked about so wanted.
Overall, the consensus is unambiguously that physical touch and signs of physical affection are essential to the growth and development of children and human beings in general. Have a nice day, and share a hug if you and the person you are hugging are both comfortable.
According to an article from Psychology Today, physical contact is something that humans need in order to function. It’s essential to the development of babies and young children. Lack of contact with another human being has been correlated to immune system disorders, anxiety, and depression. Research on this was seen in Harry Harlow's monkey experiments from throughout the 1950’s because of their similarities to humans. He was a scientist who wanted to do research on monkeys as a way to learn more about the way physical touch and intimacy related to humans, using monkeys. He was a psychologist who studied at Stanford University after a year at Reed College. The nature of his experiments stuck closely with empathy and studies of depression and emotions. Most of his experiments are nowadays famous for their excessive cruelty and often questionable methods, with even his cohorts looking at or back on it with disdain and horror.
The baby monkeys in his experiments were given fake mothers to receive love from. Mother 1 was soft and comforting, but had little to no food whatsoever. Mother 2 was rough and made of wires, but had more food. The monkeys did go to Mother 2 for food, but most of their time was spent cuddling with Mother 1, even though neither could return affection. As far as experiments went, it’s the kind of thing that would probably not fly today because of how inhumane it is. It did, however, prove without a shadow of a doubt physical touch and intimacy were essential to the developments and monkeys and thus, by extension, humans in Harlow’s eyes.
The latter part was undoubtedly true; the part about humans. Hands On Research: The Science of Touch showed that during growth and development, orphans who aren’t often hugged or given physical affection as much as their orphaned peers tend to have less weight and height (Though this way be a matter of correlation vs causation in the studies.) The Power of Touch: Physical Affection is Important in Relationships, but Some People Need More Than Others brings up the fact that couple who engage in non-sexual physical contact appear happier based on their research and goes into depth about the different results and alternative options for ways to physically connect if the couples he talked about so wanted.
Overall, the consensus is unambiguously that physical touch and signs of physical affection are essential to the growth and development of children and human beings in general. Have a nice day, and share a hug if you and the person you are hugging are both comfortable.