Indiana University
Principles of Sociology Soc 161, Fall 1982
Grade: Full Credit, 11 Points, “Good Paper”
(A) in Class
Hypothesis
Physical contact (hugs, pats, shoulder squeezing, hand holding etc.) affect the body in a positive manner both physically and psychologically; lack of physical contact has a negative affect on the body physically and psychologically.
Observations
Football players are quite demonstrative with their physical contact. Anyone who has watched them get ready just before game time knows this to be true. These big tough macho men (who would be arrested for such behavior in any other circumstances) hug, squeeze, hold, hit and embrace each other in groups of fifty or more. This physical contact with one another psyches up each individual and adds to team unity; their adrenaline is released which prepares them physically for rigorous activity. 1. During the game the physical contact continues with pats on the rear and hand slapping to keep spirits up, share the joy of a touchdown and stimulate another burst of adrenaline.
On the other hand, patients suffering from depression are not psyched up for life and are physically lethargic. Having worked with depressed patients, I have observed that they lack the ability to reach out to be touched; they lack receptiveness to others physical advances too. Depressed people seem unable to gather enough physical or psychological energy to respond. They isolate themselves because they feel isolated.
Test 1
I would love to see what would happen if on a given Sunday one half of the NFL teams refrained from all physical contact, other than what is needed to tackle and get the ball through their opponents defense. The opposing team would be allowed their usual pre-game physical bombardment of one another before the game.
Comparisons could then be drawn as to how the players felt about playing without their physical contact: were they as psyched up? Did they physically play as well? Were there more injuries than usual (compare statistics from previous play)? Do they feel that they should have beaten the team that they played? How much did they play up to their potential?
To ensure spontaneous response from the team being tested they would not be told of the test procedure until arrived at the stadium prior to the game. After the game the players would be questioned as to the differences that they observed with the elimination of the normal pre-game physicalness.
Statistics could be compared as to points scored, number of fumbles and general effectiveness of the testing team. Hopefully we could learn whether their physical contact really aides the team physically and psychologically.
Test 2
I recommend doing touch histories on patients with depression. Family members and significant others who bring them to the hospital could be asked about the usual touching patterns in the families’ or patients’ life. Are they a family or a couple that is physically close? How do they touch? When? For how long? Is touching in a marital relationship only for sexual purposes? Have them make out a usual days touching itinerary.
The patient could be questioned too. Comparisons here between what family members reported and what the patient reports may also be enlightening.
Ask the patient how his family was in regard to touching during his childhood. Did he feel free to jump up on a parents lap? Perhaps one parent and not the other? Was there physical contact in the form of a pat on the head or maybe a bear hug? How would they like to be touched? Is it important for them to be touched? Was there a drastic change in their recent past (last 1-2 years) in regard to their physical contact? Death divorce or other physical separation could decrease ones’ physical contact behavior. Was there a substantial change in the amount of touching that was comfortable for the patient?
One true example a recall was a woman of 47 who had been married 26 years, had five children and described her family as quite physically expressive in their love: both parents hugged the children daily and the children frequently were seen with their arms around one another. When she had a radical mastectomy her husband and children were so frightened that they were unable to touch her as usual. The woman committed suicide before any help could be obtained for her and her family.
Test 3
Psychiatrists and psychologists treating depressed patients could do a different study. One group of depressed patients could be given conventional therapy; the other group should be purposefully given physical contact along with conventional therapy. The counselors would need to decide how comfortable they felt with each type of physical contact and use it appropriately. The a patient should be able to perceive it as sincere or the results would be tainted to say the least.
A sincere handshake could be initiated before the therapy session. The counselors should be positioned so that physical contact can be comfortably done during discussion; squeezing of the shoulder, patting hand or knee and if possible a strong hug before leaving would serve well.
The two groups can be compared as to: did the touched patients show any signs of being more psyched up for life than the untouched? Can it initiate some adrenaline for them and thus increase their physical activity? As time goes on does the touched patient have the ability to respond to human contact? Can a team spirit feeling be generated to those without this feeling by having physical contact with them? Can we take a cue from football and use it to help the depressed patient?
Hypothesis
(Agree or Disagree)
I’m sure that without their usual touching behaviors the football teams could not function anywhere near their best. I’m sure that less team spirit could be assessed from them; without the team spirit and the adrenaline stimulation of their physical contact they would win less games and have more injuries.
I think there would be a high correlation between the onset of depression and the lack of physical contact in the depressed patients.
I don’t doubt that with proper controls and with therapists that felt ok about touching their patients, the patients who were purposely touched during the study would do better than those treated conventionally.
Analysis
If my research design were ever carried out I hope that it would show in black and white just how important physical contact is. I hope people would THINK about how, why, when and whom they touch. They may use it more often to express themselves at times when at a loss for sensitive enough words. Perhaps we could become more inclined to ASK for physical contact when we need it, realizing what it can do for us.
If fifty macho men (football players) can all hug one another why not encourage other groups to do the same? There are many groups that could attain cohesiveness with physical contact: a class of students studying for a big exam, a local chapter of Parents Without Partners, residents of a senior citizen home (staff could also join in) and any other group who could benefit from gaining a team spirit and increasing physical ability.
We know that newborns die without soft warm contact; the depressed patients situation would illustrate one of the things that can happen to adults with a lack of soft warm contact. If lack of soft warm contact can have such a drastic effect on the youngest of our species then it MUST also effect even the oldest in some negative way.
Notes
1 Adrenaline – is a neurotransmitter (chemical substance released at the neuromuscular junction) released in response to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. This also sometimes referred to as the fight or flight response. This is a protective mechanism of the body that is elicited in conditions that are other than basal.
The physical contact displayed by football players serves to elicit a sympathetic response which results in the release of adrenaline. Adrenaline serves to prepare muscles to run, jump, tackle and in being generally ready to play. It does this by: elevating blood pressure, pulse, respiration and general metabolism which brings more blood and more oxygen to the muscles that they need to increase activity. If this was not done and the muscles were not ready with extra blood and oxygen I’m sure that they would be more inclined to injury.