Banissy, Michael,

When we touch : handshakes, hugs, high fives and the new science behind why touch matters / Michael Banissy. - 249 pages ; 24 cm

Developmental touch : the origins of our most underappreciated sense —
Scientists who stroke : the neuroscience of touch —
Healthy touch : can hugs conquer the common cold? —
Touch hunger : what happens when we don't receive enough touch? —
Tactile intimacy: from sex to spooning, the role of intimate touch in relationships —
Touchy-feely or avoid at all costs : our touch personas —
Touch culture : how our backgrounds affect how we perceive touch —
Social touch : the hidden secret to effective teamwork —
Do touch, don't touch : the murky world of touch at work —
Digital touch : the future of touch in our society.

"Why is a hugged person a healthier person? Why do high-fiving teams win more matches? How does a shared handshake make you more likely to tell the truth? We rely on touch every day of our lives. It makes us who we are. It helps us connect with those around us. And yet touch between individuals can be fraught with confusion and misunderstanding. In When We Touch, social neuroscientist Professor Michael Banissy blends expert scientific insights with anecdotes from 90s rom coms to office politics to explore the new science of human touch. His groundbreaking new book explains how touch impacts every part of our lives, from why touch is essential for healthy development, to how kissing might help us choose a genetically beneficial mate to how holding hands with a loved one can help us feel less pain. Banissy tackles the nuances of appropriate touch across culture and gender, investigates our 'touch personas' and why they differ, and offers solutions to the 'touch hunger' that has become a modern epidemic in our increasingly distanced world. From the most inconsequential to the most salient moments of human contact, When We Touch is a fascinating and entertaining exploration of our most overlooked sense"--Publisher's description



GBC310213 bnb


Touch--Psychological aspects.
Manners and customs--Psychological aspects.