What Makes Touch Comfortable? An Examination of Touch Giving and Receiving in Two Cultures

Schirmer, Annett; Cham, Clare; Zhao, Zihao

doi:10.1177/01461672221105966

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 76 publications

(150 reference statements)

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“…Thus, subtle differences in how the pandemic was handled nationally as well as other interindividual variables could be relevant in modulating psychophysical responses to touch. Although, the present and previous research, in various cultures, has shown that the inverted u-shaped pleasantness is relatively stable on a group level (Croy et al, 2021; Cruciani et al, 2021; Schirmer et al, 2019), variables such as touch frequency, touch manners, or current ideology have been linked to the feelings elicited by touch (Sailer & Ackerley, 2019; Schirmer, Cham, et al, 2022; Sorokowska et al, 2021). Future research is required to understand whether and how these variables moderate the effect of velocity and other motion properties on the subjective evaluation of stroking touch.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 69%

Stroking trajectory shapes velocity effects on pleasantness and other touch percepts.

Schirmer¹,

Cham²,

Lai³

et al. 2023

Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Perfor

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Research has identified an inverted u-shaped relationship between the pleasantness of arm stroking and stroking velocity. However, the generalizability of this relationship is questionable as much of the work relied on the rotary tactile stimulator (RTS), which strokes skin with force varying along an arc and confounds stimulus velocity with duration. We explored how these parameters shape the subjective evaluation of touch. In Study 1, one group of participants was stroked by the RTS, while two other groups were stroked by a new robot capable of different stroking trajectories. Participants were stroked at five velocities and rated pleasantness, humanness, intensity, and roughness. In Study 2, participants were stroked by the new robot imitating the trajectory of the RTS exactly, imitating it while controlling stimulus duration, or moving linearly or ovally with both constant force and duration. Participants rated pleasantness and humanness. Although stroke velocity was related to both pleasantness and humanness in an inverted u-shaped manner, stimulus trajectory modulated this relationship and the association between velocity and the other ratings. Together, our results clearly link stroking velocity to the perception of touch but highlight that this relationship is shaped by other physical parameters including touch duration and spatial pattern. Public Significance StatementPsychophysical research has identified an inverted u-shaped relationship between a touch's velocity and subjective pleasantness, which has guided current thinking about the processing and benefits of a gentle caress. Here, we show that this relationship depends on aspects of the tactile stimulus that, so far, have been overlooked, including the duration of skin contact and the trajectory of the touch. We find that stroking duration and trajectory shape how stroke velocity modulates subjective pleasantness, humanness, intensity, and roughness. Thus, we identify a need for research to go beyond velocity and to consider other motion features of touch, especially those that approximate human social touch outside the laboratory.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 69%

Stroking trajectory shapes velocity effects on pleasantness and other touch percepts.

Schirmer¹,

Cham²,

Lai³

et al. 2023

Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Perfor

Self Cite

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“…Compared with the original TEAQ, the simplified Chinese version was characterized by a clear three-factor structure (Attitude to Intimate Touch (AIT), Childhood Touch (ChT), and Current Positive Touch (CPT). Although China belongs to a low-touch culture, there is no significant difference between Chinese and Western subjects in the experience of touch pleasure, which shows that the differences between China and Western high-touch culture countries are mainly reflected in the culture of how to use touch in social interaction norms rather than personal pleasure in touch [ 52 ]. Since Chinese people also get a high sense of pleasure from social touch with acquaintances, they hold a positive attitude towards touch.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Firstly, the kissing, hugging and sex-related items were excluded in “cultural and linguistic adaptation” section, which is consistent with previous researches. Researches on the positive effects of touch mainly focus on the nonsexual touch [ 52 ]. Sex-related items were also excluded in revision of Russian TEAQ [ 24 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reliability and validity of a simplified touch experiences and attitudes questionnaire for Chinese college students

Yang,

Li,

Xie

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Touch cultures have both differences and commonalities in different regions. The Touch Experiences and Attitudes Questionnaire (TEAQ) is a widely applicable self-report tool. The purpose of our research was to examine the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of TEAQ for Chinese college students. We translated the 57 items of the original TEAQ into Chinese and assessed its cultural and linguistic adaptation in Chinese context. Two samples were recruited for the assessment of validity and reliability. The Social Support Rating Scale, Index of Well-being Scale and Security Questionnaire were chosen as criterion-related validity indicators. Item analysis, principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the simplified Chinese version of TEAQ contained 18 items in three factors: Attitude to Intimate Touch, Childhood Touch and Current Positive Touch, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 57.12%. The 3-factor model had good validity and reliability. The TEAQ was positively correlated with social support, sense of security and well-being. There were demographic differences in sex and left-behind experience. We anticipate the simplified TEAQ will be a valuable tool for the research of touch among Chinese college students.

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“…This is why most of the participants would explain their views regarding touch by referring to religion, they would mention the notion of Mehram (a person who is allowed to stay with Muslim women without the need for coverings of the veil), and Na'mehram (a person who fulfills the criteria of getting married to), with respect to cross-gender touch even if not asked about it. That is why touch is said to be culture-specific (Schirmer et al 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Touch in Cognitive Communication among Females: A Case Study

Khattak,

Sohail,

Arooj

2023

Journal of Applied Social Science

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This study qualitatively explores the understanding and need for social touch in cognitive communication. The empirical data are collected from a sample of 17 young unmarried females of 18 to 24 years through in-depth interviews. Six main themes are identified: meaning, touch need, accessibility, factors shaping touch expression, social agents of touch, and impacts of touch deprivation. The result indicates that the cultural traditions and religious narratives have significantly affected the perceptions of females in such a way that they do not realize their touch needs. This arouses concerns and points toward a prediction that it will not take much longer to see its ill effects on the general population. The findings of the study are significant to healthcare professionals and educationists to carry out focused campaigns and timely interventions. The study has resulted in both theoretical contributions to prosocial behavior literature and is a valuable addition to social touch research.

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What Makes Touch Comfortable? An Examination of Touch Giving and Receiving in Two Cultures

Cited by 16 publications

References 76 publications

Stroking trajectory shapes velocity effects on pleasantness and other touch percepts.

Stroking trajectory shapes velocity effects on pleasantness and other touch percepts.

Reliability and validity of a simplified touch experiences and attitudes questionnaire for Chinese college students

Role of Touch in Cognitive Communication among Females: A Case Study

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