Post on 27-Dec-2015
Haptics
Touch is the most intimate form of communication
Metaphors associated with touch
keeping in touch.not being in touch
with reality.a touching gesture.using the “soft touch”
on someone
the importance of touch
brush caress clinch cuddle embrace grope handshake high five hit hold hug feel fondle kiss knuckle bump
nibble pat pinch poke prod push reach around rub scratch shove slap spank squeeze stroke tickle
“Touch has the power to repel, disgust, insult, threaten, console, reassure, love, and arouse” (Andersen, 2008)
functions of touchGreeting ritualsComfort, reassurancePositive or negative
affectCommunicating status,
powerConveying the level of
intimacy
Types of touch
FunctionalProfessionalSocial/PoliteFriendship/WarmthLove/IntimacySexual Arousal
touch in infancy Touch is the first sense
humans develop. Touch is essential for
proper emotional and psychological development.
Monkeys raised in isolation from their mothers were maladjusted (Harlow, 1958)
Preemies who are touched grow faster.
In orphanages, untouched children die of merasmus (wasting away) (Montagu, 1978)
Tactile stimulation in the first years of live is necessary for brain development (Gerhart, 2004; Perry, 2002)
context is keyThe context determines
the meaning of touch.◦ pat on the back
reassuring or condescending?
◦ punch in the arm Playful or aggressive?
◦ slap on the butt in sports Okay on the field, not okay
in the locker room.
Culture shapes the meaning assigned to touch◦ two males holding
hands◦ shaking hands with the
left hand◦ a male shaking a
woman’s hand
Who touches whom?
In public places, males initiate more touch than females (Hertenstein, Verkemp, et al., 2006)
In private settings, women initiate touch more often (Major et al., 1990)
Women use more non-hand touches than men (body and leg touches).
Men are more likely to initiate touch early in a relationship
Women are more likely to initiate touch in marriages
More about who touches whom
Overweight people◦ receive fewer touches (Holmes,
2005)
People with disabilities◦ Touching a person’s wheelchair or
other assistive device is inappropriate.
Touch avoiders◦ Some people are apprehensive
about touching and being touched
Touch illiterates◦ Some people lack awareness of
social norms governing touch
Appropriate or inappropriate?
Male Touchers◦male friend◦boss◦ father◦ teacher◦uncle
Female Touchers◦ female friend◦boss◦mother◦ teacher◦aunt
Female Touchees◦arm◦shoulder◦ forearm◦knee◦ face
Male Touchees◦arm◦shoulder◦ forearm◦knee◦ face
Workplace touch
beyond the handshake there are only 4 where skin-to-skin contact is acceptable among co-workers:◦upper arm◦forearm◦top of wrist
Appropriate given the context? Mila Kunis grabbed Justin
Timberlake’s “package” during the MTV awards in 2011.
He returned the favor by grabbing her boobs.
Sascha Baron Cohen, dressed as an angel, “fell” into Eminem during
appropriate political touch? When President
Bush started to give German Chancellor Angela Merkel a shoulder rub at the Group of 8 summit meeting in 2006, she recoiled
In a moment reminiscent of a scene in the Godfather, John McCain hugged George W. Bush.
Putin kissed a 5 yr. old on the belly, explaining it as a spontaneous gesture of affection
The handshakeshake it, don’t break it
types of handshakes
the dead fish the bone crusher lady fingers the swoop in the stiff arm the two-hander the pump handle the saw
Alternatives◦ high five◦ knuckle bump◦ double-handed◦ cheek kiss
The “correct” Western handshake Remember the person’s
name Avoid sweaty palms
(handkerchief) Stand up, walk around objects Look at the person, not at the
hand Make eye contact, smile Don’t shake with your left hand Offer a firm shake, not
overpowering Make full palm-to-palm contact
Avoid vice grips
Save the double-hander for the U.N.
Are you rescuing a princess or shaking hands?
No thumb-wrestling, please
Status, power and touch People with higher status tend to touch more
than those with low status (Henley, 1973) 88% of handshakes, in one study, were
initiated by managers In organizational settings, superiors touch
subordinates more than subordinates touch superiors (Remland, 1981).
Higher status persons have more touch privilege than low status persons (Andersen, 2008)
exerting dominance, control
An airline passenger claims the armrest by bumping another passenger’s arm off.
A standing manager places both hands on a seated employee’s shoulders while saying, “You’re going to have that report for me by the end of the day, right?”
A boyfriend puts his arm around his girlfriend and pulls her in closer to him to signal possessiveness.
Touching people’s possessions—grabbing their cell phone or iPod
Touch and compliance gaining
“Phone booth” study. A confederate intentionally left a coin in a phone booth for another person to find.
No touch condition: When the person found the coin, the confederate approached him/her and said “Did you happen to seem my coin in that phone booth? I need it to make another call?”◦ 23% compliance
Touch condition: the confederate touched the person lightly on the elbow for 1-3 seconds and asked if they found the coin.◦ 68% compliance
Cultural differences in replicating the phone booth study: Touch was most effective in low-touch cultures:
22% compliance for Italians
50% compliance for French 72% compliance for
Australians 70% compliance for
English 85% compliance for
Germans
Touch and compliance gaining Food servers and
compliance gaining Retail sales Bystanders and helping
behavior Incidental touch in a library Touch and requests for
donations
Guidelines make the touch light and
brief◦ A count of “one Mississippi.”
look for signs of discomfort◦ moving farther away,
crossing arms, buttoning coat
limit contact to the shoulder, forearm, elbow, or back.
Don’t touch bare shoulders or backs