Abstract
The history of research on social touch is discussed along with comparisons of different research strategies and techniques. Suggestions for future research are proposed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Aguilera, D.C. Relationship between physical contact and verbal interaction between nurses and patients.Journal of Psychiatric Nursing 1967,5 5–21.
Ainsworth, M.D.S. Infant-mother attachment.American Psychologist 1979,34 932–937.
Andersen, P.A., & Leibowitz, K. The development and nature of the construct touch avoidance.Environmental Psychology and Nonverbal Behavior 1978,3 89–106.
Argyle, M., & Dean, J. Eye-contact, distance and affiliation.Sociometry 1965,28 289–304.
Barnlund, D.C. Communicative styles in two cultures: Japan and the United States. In A. Kendon, R.M. Harris, & M.R. Key (Eds.),Organization of behavior in face-to-face interaction. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, Pp. 427–456.
Barroso, F., & Feld, J.K. Self-touching and attentional processes: The role of task difficulty, selection stage, and sex differences.Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 1986, 10.
Barroso, F., Freedman, N., Grand, S. Self-touching, performance, and attentional processes.Perceptual and Motor Skills 1980,50 1083–1089.
Blurton Jones, N. Categories of child-child interaction. In N. Blurton Jones (Ed.),Ethological studies of child behavior. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1972. Pp. 97–128.
Bowlby, J.Attachment and loss. Vol. 1.: Attachment. New York: Basic Books, 1969.
Bugental, D.E., Kaswan, J.W., Love, L.R., & Fox, M.N. Child versus adult perception of evaluative messages in verbal, vocal, and visual channels.Developmental Psychology 1970,2 367–375.
Casler, L. Maternal deprivation: A critical review of the literature.Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 1961, 26, whole no. 80.
Clay, V.S. The effect of culture on mother-child tactile communication. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Columbia University, 1966.
Cooper, C.L., & Bowles, D. Physical encounter and self-disclosure.Psychological Reports 1973,33 451–454.
Crusco, A.H., & Wetzel, C.G. The Midas touch: The effects of interpersonal touch on restaurant tipping.Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 1984,10 512–517.
Curran, J.P. Convergence toward a single sexual standard?Social Behavior and Personality 1975,3 189–195.
Davis, M. Laban analysis of nonverbal communication. Is S. Weitz (Ed.),Nonverbal communication. Second Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 1979. Pp. 182–206.
Deethart, J.F., & Hines, D.G. Tactile communication and personality differences.Journal of Nonverbal Behavior 1983,8 143–156.
Ekman, P., & Friesen, W.V. The repertoire of nonverbal behavior: Categories, usage and coding.Semiotica 1969,1 49–98.
Fisher, S.Body consciousness: You are what you feel. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1973.
Fisher, J.D., Rytting, M., & Heslin, R. Hands touching hands: Affective and evaluative aspects of an interpersonal touch.Sociometry 1976,39 416–421.
Forden, C. The influence of sex-role expectations on the perception of touch.Sex Roles 1981,7 889–894.
Frank, L.K. Tactile communication.Genetic Psychology Monographs 1957,56 209–225.
Freedman, N. The analysis of movement behavior during the clinical interview. In A. Siegman & B. Pope (Eds.),Studies in dyadic communication. New York: Pergamon Press, 1971. Pp. 153–175.
Goldberg, S., & Lewis, M. Play behavior in the year-old infant: Early sex differences.Child Development 1969,40 21–31.
Goldstein, A.G., & Jeffords, J. Status and touching behavior.Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society 1981,17 79–81.
Greenbaum, P.E., & Rosenfeld, H.M. Varieties of touching in greeting: Sequential structure and sex-related differences.Journal of Nonverbal Behavior 1980,5 13–25.
Hall, E.T.The hidden dimension. New York: Doubleday, 1966.
Hanna, J.L. Black/White nonverbal differences, dance, and dissonance: Implications for desegregation. In A. Wolfgang (Ed.),Nonverbal behavior. New York: C.J. Hogrefe, 1984. Pp. 373–409.
Harlow, H.F. The nature of love.American Psychologist 1958,13 673–685.
Henley, N.M. Status and sex: Some touching observations.Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society 1973,2 91–93.
Henley, N.M.Body politics. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1977.
Heslin, R., & Alper, T. Touch: A bonding gesture. In J.M. Wiemann & R.P. Harrison (Eds.),Nonverbal communication. Beverly Hills: Sage, 1982. Pp. 47–75.
Heslin, R., & Boss, D. Nonverbal intimacy in airport arrival and departure.Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 1980,6 248–252.
Hinde, R.A. (Ed.),Non-verbal communication. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1972.
Hoffer, B., & Santos, R.G. Cultural clashes in kinesics. In W. von Raffler-Engel and B. Hoffer (Eds.),Aspects of nonverbal communication. Texas: Trinity University, 1977. Pp. 325–329.
Holroyd, J.C., & Brodsky, A.M. Psychologists' attitudes and practices regarding erotic and nonerotic physical contact with patients.American Psychologist 1977,32 843–849.
Huang, L.T., Phares, R., & Hollander, M.H. The wish to be held: A transcultural study.Archives of General Psychiatry 1976,33 41–43.
Hubble, M.A., Noble, F.C., & Robinson (1981). The effects of counselor touch in an initial counseling session.Journal of Counseling Psychology, 28 533–535.
Jourard, S.M. An exploratory study of body accessibility.British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 1966,5 221–231.
Kaplan, B., & Johnson, D. The social meaning of Navajo psychopathology. In A. Kiev (Ed.),Magic, faith and healing. New York: Free Press, 1964. Pp. 203–229.
Kendon, A., Ferber, A. A description of some human greetings. In R.P. Michael & J.H. Crook (Eds.),Comparative ecology and behavior of primates. London: Academic Press, 1973. Pp. 591–668.
Kleinke, C. Compliance to requests made by gazing and touching experimenters in field settings.Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 1977,13 218–223.
Korner, A. The many faces of touch. In C.C. Brown (Ed.),The many facets of touch. New Jersey: Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Company, 1984. Pp. 107–113.
Korner, A. F., & Grobstein, R. Visual alertness as related to soothing in neonates: Implications for maternal stimulation and early deprivation.Child Development 1966,37 867–876.
Krieger, D. Therapeutic touch: The imprimatur of nursing.Journal of Nursing 1975,75 784–787.
LaBarre, W. The cultural basis of emotions and gestures.Journal of Personality 1947,16 49–60.
Lamb, M.E. Father-infant and mother-infant interaction in the first year of life.Child Development 1977,48 167–181.
Leiderman, P.H., Leifer, A.D., Seashore, M.J., Barnett, C.R., & Grobstein, R. Mother-infant interaction: Effects of early deprivation, prior experience and sex of infant.Early Development 1973,51 154–175.
Lomranz, J., & Shapira, A. Communicative patterns of self-disclosure and touching behavior.Journal of Psychology 1974,88 223–227.
Lowen, A.The betrayal of the body. New York: Macmillan, 1966.
Lucey, J.F. The sleeping, dreaming fetus meets the intensive care nursery. In C.C. Brown (Ed.),The many facets of touch. New Jersey: Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Company, 1984. Pp. 75–83.
Major, B. Gender patterns in touching behavior. In C. Mayo & N.M. Henley (Eds.),Gender and nonverbal behavior. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1981. Pp. 15–37.
Major, B., & Heslin, R. Perception of cross-sex and same-sex nonreciprocal touch: It is better to give than to receive.Journal of Nonverbal Behavior 1982,6 148–162.
McGrew, W.C.An ethological study of children's behavior. New York: Academic Press, 1972.
Mead, M., & Macgregor, F.C.Growth and culture: A photographic study of Balinese childhood. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1951.
Mehrabian, A., & Ferris, S.R. Inference of attitudes from nonverbal communication in two channels.Journal of Consulting Psychology 1967,31 248–252.
Mintz, E.E. Touch and the psychoanalytic tradition.Psychoanalytic Review 1969,56 365–376.
Montagu, A.Touching: The human significance of the skin. New York: Columbia University Press, 1971.
Montagu, A.Touching: The human significance of the skin. Second Edition. New York: Harper & Row, 1978.
Murphy, J.M. Psychotherapeutic aspects of shamanism on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. In A. Kiev (Ed.),Magic, faith and healing. New York: Free Press, 1964.
Nguyen, M.S., Heslin, R., & Nguyen, T.D. The meaning of touch: Sex and marital status differences.Representative Research in Social Psychology 1976,7 13–18.
Noesjirwan, J. A laboratory study of proxemic patterns of Indonesians and Australians.British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 1978,17 333–345.
Pattison, J. Effects of touch on self-exploration and the therapeutic relationship.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1973,40 170–175.
Patterson, M.L., Powell, J.L., & Lenihan, M.G. Touch, compliance, and interpersonal affect.Journal of Nonverbal Behavior 1986,10 41–51.
Paulsell, S., & Goldman, S. The effect of touching different body areas on prosocial behavior.Journal of Social Psychology 1984,2 269–273.
Pisano, M.D., Wall, S.M., & Foster, A. Perceptions of nonreciprocal touch in romantic relationships.Journal of Nonverbal Behavior 1986,10 29–40.
Raiche, B.M. The effects of touch in counselor portrayal of empathy and regard, and in the promotion of child self-disclosure, as measured by vido tape simulation. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Maine, 1977.
Ramsey, S. Double vision: Nonverbal behavior East and West. In A. Wolfgang (Ed.),Nonverbal behavior: Perspectives, applications, intercultural insights. New York: C.J. Hogrefe, 1984. Pp. 139–167.
Reich, W.Character analysis. New York: Noonday Press, 1949.
Rinck, C.M., Willis, F.N., & Dean, L.M. Interpersonal touch among residents of homes for the elderly.Journal of Communication 1980,30 44–47.
Rosenfeld, L.B., Kartus, S., & Ray, C. Body accessibility revisited.Journal of Communication 1976,26 27–30.
Schaffer, H.R., & Emerson, P.E. Patterns of response to physical contact in early human development.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 1984,5 1–13.
Shuter, R. Proxemics and Tactility in Latin America.Journal of Communication 1976,26 46–52.
Silverman, A.F., Pressman, M.E., & Bartel, H.W. Self-esteem and tactile communication.Journal of Humanistic Psychology 1973,13 73–77.
Smith, D.E., Gier, J.A., & Willis, F.N. Interpersonal touch and compliance with a marketing request.Basic and Applied Social Psychology 1982,3 35–38.
Smith, D.E., Willis, F.N., & Gier, J.A. Success and interpersonal touch in a competitive setting.Journal of Nonverbal Behavior 1980,5 26–34.
Spitz, R.A. Hospitalism: An inquiry into the genesis of psychiatric conditions in early childhood. In O. Fenichel (Ed.),The psychoanalytic study of the child. Vol. 1. New York: International Universities Press, 1945. Pp. 53–74.
Stern, D.The first relationship: Infant and mother. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1977.
Stier, D.S., & Hall, J.A. Gender differences in touch: An empirical and theoretical review.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1984,47 440–459.
Suomi, S.J. The role of touch in rhesus monkey development. In C.C. Brown (Ed.),The many facets of touch. New Jersey: Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Company, 1984. Pp. 41–50.
Sussman, N.M., & Rosenfeld, H.M. Touch, justification, and sex: Influences on the aversiveness of spatial violations.Journal of Social Psychology 1978,106 215–225.
Thayer, S. Social touching. In W. Schiff & E. Foulke (Eds.),Tactual perception: A sourcebook. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1982. Pp. 263–304.
Thayer, S. Touch. In E. Barnouw (Ed.),International encyclopedia of communications. New York: Oxford University Press, In Press.
Tolstedt, B.E., & Stokes, J.P. Relation of verbal, affective, and physical intimacy to marital satisfaction.Journal of Counseling Psychology 1983,30 573–580.
Watson, O.M., & Graves, T.D. Quantitative research in proxemic behavior.American Anthropologist 1966,68 971–985.
Whitcher, S.J., & Fisher, J.D. Multidimensional reaction to therapeutic touch in a hospital setting.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1979,7 87–96.
White, B.L., & Castle, P.W. Visual exploratory behavior following postnatal handling of human infants.Perceptual and Motor Skills 1964,18 497–502.
Williams, S.J., & Willis, F.N., Jr. Interpersonal touch among preschool children at play.Psychological Record 1978,28 501–508.
Willis, F.N., & Hamm, H.K. The use of interpersonal touch in securing compliance.Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 80,5, 49–55.
Willis, F.N., & Hofmann, G. Development of tactile patterns in relation to age, sex and race.Developmental Psychology 1975,11 866.
Willis, F.N., & Reeves, D.L. Touch interaction in junior high school students in relation to sex and race.Developmental Psychology 1976,12 91–92.
Willis, F.N., Reeves, D.L., & Buchanan, D.R. Interpersonal touching high school relative to sex and race.Perceptual and Motor Skills 1976,43 843–847.
Willis, F.N., & Rinck, C.M. A personal log method for investigating interpersonal touch.Journal of Psychology 1983,113 119–122.
Willis, F.N., Rinck, C.M., & Dean, L.M. Interpersonal touch among adults in cafeteria lines.Perceptual and Motor Skills 1978,47 1147–1152.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thayer, S. History and strategies of research on social touch. J Nonverbal Behav 10, 12–28 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987202
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987202