Page 47 - Life In Naples Magazine December 2014 Edition
P. 47
DOCTOR’S CORNER
“ People who touch have better effects of touch in schools, but many
“Studies have shown the positive
relationships. They have higher
this from happening. We have to
levels of intimacy. Touch often sexual harassment policies prevent
ask ourselves, is there a greater
produces positive emotions. Skin harm of following the letter of
hunger (lack of touch) shows those harassment laws and creating
incredibly cold environments?”
In the womb we are surrounded
negative association with general by touch, which is the most essential
health, happiness, social support, of the five basic senses for survival.
relationship satisfaction, and Touch is the first and last sense of
our lives. As we hug a newborn the
attachment security. baby is comforted and fed; and as we console the dying, touch is the
last sense to diminish before death. Babies, toddlers, and children
–Peter Andersen ” are the best to lovingly cuddle, caress, hug, and play wrestle. Parents
Ph.D. trained at Florida State University mourn the day their children are too big to sit on their laps.
Adolescents can be confused, wanting to be hugged and
appreciated but ending up with excessive and harmful premature
lives. All are examples of us joining interest groups where we help sexuality. Parents, relatives, and others who are appropriate can and
each other and have physical contact with each other. should continue to be hugging adolescents as this physical touching
Peter Andersen is a Ph.D. trained at Florida State University. is therapeutic and necessary.
He observes: Adults in the working environment should be “high fiving,” “fist
“People who touch have better relationships. They have higher levels bumping,” shaking hands, and touching on the arm or shoulder to
of intimacy. Touch often produces positive emotions. Skin hunger (lack help create an environment of trust and success. We don’t have to
of touch) shows negative association with general health, happiness, be distant. Having fun doing the right thing is mission critical for
social support, relationship satisfaction, and attachment security. Some good teams doing important work. Cold, distant, and excessively
studies show excessive time spent in a digital world is more likely to formal environments are not necessary for progress.
produce loneliness.” Granted, in some adversarial situations such as courtrooms, it is
Certain cultures are much more intimate and “touchy” than still important to be professional in order to come to a solution which
others. The English are often characterized as stiff (think of a is good and fair for all. Obviously, the non-verbal communications
“stiff upper lip”). Many Latin cultures endorse hugging, double or are different here and the “touch” maybe limited to a handshake.
triple cheek kissing, and warm banter before and after any serious Maturing as adults we can still nod, acknowledge, hand
business is conducted. shake and try to make appropriate contact. In some situations,
Americans, according to Peter Andersen, are somewhere in the mature adults don’t have the psychosocial barriers of the younger
middle of the spectrum. We are a melting pot, which is good, but we dating/courtship group where public intimacy maybe mistaken
are sometimes conflicted by wanting to be warm and hug others— for sexual aggressiveness.
along with a concern that touch or inadvertent excessive public Finally, the elderly, disabled, and very ill are sometimes
intimacy might not be welcome. In fact, in today’s hypersensitive characterized as “untouchables,” and this is an area for more
work environment, touch may be misconstrued as an invasion of understanding and change. We can help folks by shaking hands,
personal space. touching, caring, reading the newspaper to them and interacting
“Proxemics” is the study of how close folks come to each other in ways that bring back pleasant memories. These folks need more,
in normal interaction, whether personal or professional. Proxemics not less touch. They are not social pariahs and in fact, if we are lucky
shows that being too close is as uncomfortable as being too distant some day, we will be the elderly ones looking for company.
and not connected. Communication among ourselves is most Life is a cycle. Touch is an important connector in this cycle
effective when we all are not afraid to make eye contact, smile and makes all of us—the “toucher” and the “touchee”—better off
warmly and genuinely, be appropriate with touch, and the right mentally and physically.
distance apart. So, reach out and touch somebody, and enjoy our most
Peter Andersen notes schools are becoming increasingly
fundamental of senses.
impersonal:
Life in Naples | December 2014 47
“ People who touch have better effects of touch in schools, but many
“Studies have shown the positive
relationships. They have higher
this from happening. We have to
levels of intimacy. Touch often sexual harassment policies prevent
ask ourselves, is there a greater
produces positive emotions. Skin harm of following the letter of
hunger (lack of touch) shows those harassment laws and creating
incredibly cold environments?”
In the womb we are surrounded
negative association with general by touch, which is the most essential
health, happiness, social support, of the five basic senses for survival.
relationship satisfaction, and Touch is the first and last sense of
our lives. As we hug a newborn the
attachment security. baby is comforted and fed; and as we console the dying, touch is the
last sense to diminish before death. Babies, toddlers, and children
–Peter Andersen ” are the best to lovingly cuddle, caress, hug, and play wrestle. Parents
Ph.D. trained at Florida State University mourn the day their children are too big to sit on their laps.
Adolescents can be confused, wanting to be hugged and
appreciated but ending up with excessive and harmful premature
lives. All are examples of us joining interest groups where we help sexuality. Parents, relatives, and others who are appropriate can and
each other and have physical contact with each other. should continue to be hugging adolescents as this physical touching
Peter Andersen is a Ph.D. trained at Florida State University. is therapeutic and necessary.
He observes: Adults in the working environment should be “high fiving,” “fist
“People who touch have better relationships. They have higher levels bumping,” shaking hands, and touching on the arm or shoulder to
of intimacy. Touch often produces positive emotions. Skin hunger (lack help create an environment of trust and success. We don’t have to
of touch) shows negative association with general health, happiness, be distant. Having fun doing the right thing is mission critical for
social support, relationship satisfaction, and attachment security. Some good teams doing important work. Cold, distant, and excessively
studies show excessive time spent in a digital world is more likely to formal environments are not necessary for progress.
produce loneliness.” Granted, in some adversarial situations such as courtrooms, it is
Certain cultures are much more intimate and “touchy” than still important to be professional in order to come to a solution which
others. The English are often characterized as stiff (think of a is good and fair for all. Obviously, the non-verbal communications
“stiff upper lip”). Many Latin cultures endorse hugging, double or are different here and the “touch” maybe limited to a handshake.
triple cheek kissing, and warm banter before and after any serious Maturing as adults we can still nod, acknowledge, hand
business is conducted. shake and try to make appropriate contact. In some situations,
Americans, according to Peter Andersen, are somewhere in the mature adults don’t have the psychosocial barriers of the younger
middle of the spectrum. We are a melting pot, which is good, but we dating/courtship group where public intimacy maybe mistaken
are sometimes conflicted by wanting to be warm and hug others— for sexual aggressiveness.
along with a concern that touch or inadvertent excessive public Finally, the elderly, disabled, and very ill are sometimes
intimacy might not be welcome. In fact, in today’s hypersensitive characterized as “untouchables,” and this is an area for more
work environment, touch may be misconstrued as an invasion of understanding and change. We can help folks by shaking hands,
personal space. touching, caring, reading the newspaper to them and interacting
“Proxemics” is the study of how close folks come to each other in ways that bring back pleasant memories. These folks need more,
in normal interaction, whether personal or professional. Proxemics not less touch. They are not social pariahs and in fact, if we are lucky
shows that being too close is as uncomfortable as being too distant some day, we will be the elderly ones looking for company.
and not connected. Communication among ourselves is most Life is a cycle. Touch is an important connector in this cycle
effective when we all are not afraid to make eye contact, smile and makes all of us—the “toucher” and the “touchee”—better off
warmly and genuinely, be appropriate with touch, and the right mentally and physically.
distance apart. So, reach out and touch somebody, and enjoy our most
Peter Andersen notes schools are becoming increasingly
fundamental of senses.
impersonal:
Life in Naples | December 2014 47
