A simple (non-sexual) touch can promote understanding, aid behavior, attract and show a sign of power.
To live, we rely primarily on our eyes and ears. Touch is often overlooked. But it is essential in the way we understand and experience the world around us. Even the lightest touch on our shoulders can influence the way we think.
To prove it, here are 10 psychological effects that show the power that one touch, with no ulterior motives, can have.
1- Tap for money
A well-timed tap can encourage people to return a lost item to you.
In one experiment, phone booth users who were touched by another person were more likely to return a lost penny, and all thanks to a simple touch on the arm (Kleinke, 1977).
And it doesn't stop there, customers are also more likely to tip the waitresses who touch them more (Crisco & Wetzel, 1984).
2- Tap for help
People are more likely to provide help when touched.
In one study, strangers who were lightly touched on the arm were found to be friendlier to pick up something that others dropped (Gueguen, 2003).
The percentage of people who helped jumped from 63% to 90%.
3- Touch for understanding
The power of a quick tap on the upper arm often increases the feeling of companionship.
In a study by Willis and Hamm (1980), participants were asked to sign a petition.
While 55% of those who were not touched agreed to sign, the percentage rose to 81% once they were touched on the upper arm.
A second study asked people to fill out a questionnaire. The same touch increased compliance from 40% to 70%.
4- Double tap for more understanding
Yes, you can increase someone's understanding with a second tap on the upper arm.
Vaidis and Halimi-Falkowicz (2008) tested this experiment while walking down the street asking people to answer a questionnaire.
Those who were tapped twice were more likely to complete the questionnaire when compared to those who were not tapped.
The effects were even greater when a man was touched by a woman.
5- Tap for a fight!
However, the acceptance of touch, especially among men, varies greatly from culture to culture.
When Dolinski (2010) carried out an experiment on comprehension in Poland, he got different results from men and women.
There, when a man asked another man to perform a favor accompanied by a light touch on the arm, the interviewee ended up reacting badly.
This appears to be related to high levels of homophobia. The women, however, continued to respond well to the touch.
6- Tap to sell your car
Unlike Poland, France has a different culture in which touching between two men is acceptable.
Then, French researchers Erceau and Gueguen (2007) approached some random men at a second-hand car store.
Half of them were lightly touched on the arm and the other half were not.
Those who were touched rated the seller as a more sincere, friendly, honest, pleasant and kind person.
Not bad for 1 touch.
We can safely assume that the results would be quite different in Poland.
7- Tap for a date
You won't be surprised to hear that men show more interest in a woman who has already touched them lightly.
But anyway, here's the research: Gueguen (2010) found that men easily misinterpret a light touch (with no ulterior motives) as a display of sexual interest.
Perhaps, this time more surprisingly, women also ended up responding well to being lightly tapped on the arm when a man asked for their phone number (Gueguen, 2007).
This could be because women associate 1 or 2 light touches as a gesture of dominance.
But keep in mind, this survey was conducted in France!
8- Touch by power
Touch communicates something vital about power in relationships. Henley (1973) observed people in a large city as they went about their daily lives.
People who tended to touch others (compared to those who didn't) generally had a higher status.
In general, we consider people who touch others to have more social power (Summerhayes & Suchner, 1978).
9- Tap to communicate
Touch can take different forms and communicate a variety of emotions. A notable study by Hertenstein (2006) talks about how much a single touch can convey certain feelings.
Using just a single forearm touch, study participants attempted to communicate 12 different emotions to one other person. The receiver, despite not being able to see who was touching him, was quite accurate in identifying anger, fear, disgust, love, gratitude, and sympathy.
Precision ranged from 48% to 83%.
To clarify, this is so good that we can interact with someone even without seeing their face.
10- Massage for math
So if you can do it all with a touch, imagine what you can do with a massage!
Well, one study found that it can boost your math skills (Field, 1996). Compared to a control group, participants who received a massage twice a week for 5 weeks were not only more relaxed but also performed better on math tests.
Once again, witness the incredible power of touch.
Retraction
Research has identified that a small proportion of people—both men and women—who dislike being touched during social interactions tend not to respond positively to these situations.
All these studies depend on proper touch. Being touched can have many different meanings depending on the situation, culture and gender. Usually, the touch in question is a light touch on the upper arm — the safest place to touch someone you don't know.
Written by Amanda Magliaro Prieto of the Eu Sem Fronteiras team
