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Romantic Physical Affection Types and Relationship Satisfaction
Abstract
College students (N = 295, 100 men, 195 women) responded to a questionnaire examining their preferences and attitudes regarding romantic physical affection (PA) types and relationship satisfaction (sexual intimacy is excluded from the scope of this study). The seven PA types examined are backrubs/massages, caressing/stroking, cuddling/holding, holding hands, hugging, kissing on the lips, and kissing on the face (not lips). In general, PA is found to be highly correlated with relationship and partner satisfaction as is suggested by prior research. Respondents' attitudes regarding the seven PA types are given in ordinal data (with gender differentiation) across the dimensions favorite, frequent, intimate, and expressive of love. Those respondents currently involved in romantic relationships provided information as to the average amounts of each PA type they engage in per week. These amounts were significantly correlated with relationship and partner satisfaction for all PA types except holding hands and caressing/stroking. Conflict resolution was generally found to be easier with more PA, but the amount of conflict was irrespective of PA. Conflict was resolved easier with increasing amounts of cuddling/holding (p < .01), kissing on the lips (p < .01), and hugging (p < .05). The implications of these findings are discussed.We thank D. Russell Crane, Thomas B. Holman, Jeffry H. Larson, Donovan Fleming, Matthew P. Spackman, Darhl M. Pedersen, Bruce N. Carpenter, Jared Montoya, Cassiey Dorius, and Bruce L. Brown for assistance in providing survey respondents for the present study.
... Kissing, hugging, holding hands, and physical affection in general are positively related to relationship outcomes for both heteronormative and sexual minority couples [3,15,16]. Physical displays of affection refer to "any touch intended to arouse feelings of love in the giver and/or the recipient," [13, p. 234]. Typically, physical displays of affection include seven types of behavior: holding hands, hugging, kissing on the lips, kissing on the face, caressing/stroking, cuddling/holding, and backrubs/massages [15]. ...
... Physical displays of affection refer to "any touch intended to arouse feelings of love in the giver and/or the recipient," [13, p. 234]. Typically, physical displays of affection include seven types of behavior: holding hands, hugging, kissing on the lips, kissing on the face, caressing/stroking, cuddling/holding, and backrubs/massages [15]. These types of behavior are thought of as nonsexual, romantic, and not as a precursor to intercourse. ...
... Acts of physical affection are positively related to relationship satisfaction [15]. Moreover, hugs from one's partner are associated with an increase in the release of the hormone oxytocin, which helps couples form lasting relationship bonds [17]. ...
This research investigated whether LGBTQ* minority stress and public displays of affection (PDA; e.g., kissing, hugging) among LGBTQ* couples are context-sensitive. We expected that (a) LQBTQ* minority stress would be more prevalent in a harmful (i.e., city center) versus a less harmful (i.e., university campus) context, and (b) PDA would be reduced for LGBTQ* couples in a harmful context. In three studies, LGBTQ* and Hetero/Cis students (NTotal = 517) reported LGBTQ*-specific minority stress and PDA in the city and on campus. The city center was higher in minority stress than the campus in all studies. Also, LGBTQ* participants’ PDA enjoyment was lower in the city than on campus (Studies 1 and 3). Minority stress mediated the context effect on PDA (Study 3). A qualitative analysis illuminated the harmful versus protective natures of public contexts. We conclude that a protective context can powerfully promote healthy LGBTQ* relationship behavior.
... The division into these two components is in line with several theories on intimacy, which commonly distinguish emotional intimacy from physical or sexual intimacy amongst other subtypes (Holt et al., 2009;Mills & Turnbull, 2004;Popovic, 2005). Research has independently linked both emotional as well as sexual aspects of intimate behaviors to personal and relationship well-being such as relationship quality, positive affect, and physical health (Cabeza de Baca et al., 2017;Ditzen et al., 2008;Field, 2010;Gallace & Spence, 2010;Gulledge et al., 2003;Kashdan et al., 2018;Laurenceau et al., 2005;Loving & Slatcher, 2013;Marshall, 2008;Mehta et al., 2016;Sprecher & Hendrick, 2004;Sprecher et al., 2013), which supports the importance of both components. However, due to a lack of research, it is not yet clear how they are related to one another, and whether sexual intimacy is a subtype of general (emotional) intimacy. ...
... Sexual intimacy added no incremental value in predicting relationship quality. Nevertheless, an extensive body of research demonstrates that not only emotionally intimate but also sexual intimate interactions are important to relationship well-being (Cabeza de Baca et al., 2017;Ditzen et al., 2008;Field, 2010;Gallace & Spence, 2010;Gulledge et al., 2003;Kashdan et al., 2018;Laurenceau et al., 2005;Loving & Slatcher, 2013;Marshall, 2008;Mehta et al., 2016;Sprecher & Hendrick, 2004;Sprecher et al., 2013). However, none of these studies tested the effects of both intimacy components in the same model. ...
The intimacy questionnaire by Birnie (2009; Birnie-Porter & Lydon, 2013) is a promising measure of relationship intimacy due to its strong theoretical background, the inclusion of lay conceptions and the differentiation of emotional and sexual intimacy. This study aimed to validate our German translation of Birnie’s questionnaire, which we labeled Intimacy Scale (IS). In two independent samples (379 and 203 individuals), confirmatory factor analyses showed best support for a bifactor S-1 model, with a strong general intimacy factor and a small specific factor, capturing unique portions of the variance related to sexual intimacy. The general intimacy factor correlated very highly and to the point of redundancy with relationship quality. Taken together, the IS may be useful as measure of relationship quality with a general (intimacy) factor. Future research is needed to improve the factorial structure of the scale.
... Touch has relational benefits as well. For example, research has reported that touch may increase relational satisfaction, closeness, and liking (Burgoon et al., 1984;Gulledge et al., 2003;Strauss et al., 2020;Suvilehto et al., 2015). Touch provided by a confederate within a female dyad has been found to be assessed as more polite by third-party observers (Trees & Manusov, 1998), thus it is worthwhile to explore observers' perceptions of touch within interpersonal settings. ...
... Based on the findings from the present study and previous literature, it is apparent that supportive messages and supportive touch can have positive outcomes (Authors, blinded; Gulledge et al., 2003). Previous research conducted by the authors (blinded) found that supportive messages interacted with touch and enhanced perceptions of the support provider's levels of supportiveness, sensitivity, and helpfulness. ...
The present study examines how supportive tactile communication impacts evaluations of esteem support messages containing high emotion-focused (HEF) or high problem-focused (HPF) content. A 2 (verbal content; i.e., HEF or HPF) by 2 (nonverbal content; i.e., presence or absence of supportive tactile communication) quasi-experiment was conducted to test for main and interactional effects of messages on relational outcomes. Participants (N = 409) were randomly assigned to watch one of four videotaped esteem support interactions between friends in which verbal content and nonverbal behavior were manipulated. Then, participants rated perceived relational outcome items (i.e., relational satisfaction, closeness, liking). Results from the experiment revealed that HEF conditions were rated significantly higher on perceptions of satisfaction, closeness, and liking compared to the HPF conditions. Additionally, supportive tactile communication conditions were rated significantly higher on perceptions of satisfaction, closeness, and liking compared to conditions with no supportive tactile communication. The 2-way interactions also revealed that the inclusion of supportive tactile communication with HEF and HPF content, increased perceptions of satisfaction, closeness, and liking beyond verbal content alone. Theoretical and pragmatic implications, in addition to limitations and future avenues for research, are also discussed.
... This, in turn, downregulates physiological stress parameters. Correspondingly, in laboratory studies, gentle forms of intimacy between romantic partners (e.g., shoulder massage or hugging; holding hands during conflict discussions) have been found to lower people's stress-induced cortisol levels, heart rate, and blood pressure (Ditzen et al., 2007(Ditzen et al., , 2019Gulledge et al., 2003;Light et al., 2005). In daily-life studies, cortisol, as a biomarker of stress that indexes activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (Piazza et al., 2010), is uniquely suited to highlight both between-and within-person characteristics that relate to stress reactivity (Hoppmann et al., 2018). ...
... Based on prior research on physical intimacy in the everyday lives of younger and middle-aged couples (Ditzen et al., 2008), we focused on overall daily cortisol secretion operationally defined by the area under the curve with respect to ground (AUC g : Pruessner et al., 2003). In our models, we controlled for variables known to influence daily emotions, cortisol profiles, and physical intimacy (including chronological age, education, body mass index [BMI], and relationship satisfaction: Gulledge et al., 2003;Hoppmann et al., 2018;Wrzus et al., 2013). We utilized gender as a distinguishing variable (Bolger & Laurenceau, 2013), but did not have any specific predictions regarding gender differences in the pattern of results. ...
Objectives:
Physical intimacy is important for communicating affection in romantic relationships. Theoretical and empirical work highlights linkages between physical intimacy, affect, and physiological stress among young and middle-aged adults, but not older adults. We examine physical intimacy and its associations with positive and negative affect and cortisol levels in the daily lives of older couples.
Method:
We applied actor-partner multilevel models to repeated daily life assessments of physical intimacy (experienced and wished) and affect obtained six times a day over seven consecutive days from 120 older heterosexual German couples (Mage= 71.6, SDage= 5.94). Physiological stress was indexed as total daily cortisol output, the area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCg).
Results:
Physical intimacy experienced and wished were reported at the vast majority of occasions, but to different degrees at different times. Within persons, in moments when participants experienced more physical intimacy, older women reported less negative affect, whereas older men reported more positive affect. Between persons, higher overall levels of physical intimacy experienced were associated with higher positive affect and less negative affect among women and with lower daily cortisol output among men. A stronger wish for intimacy was related to more negative affect among both women and men, and to higher daily cortisol output among men.
Discussion:
Physical intimacy is linked with mood and stress hormones in the daily life of older couples. We consider routes for future inquiry on physical intimacy among older adults.
... Physical expressions of affection, especially romantic physical affection (PA), are closely linked to overall relationship satisfaction. For example, actions such as back-rubs, caressing, cuddling, holding hands, hugging, and kissing are significantly related to romantic relationship satisfaction [26]. Touch also serves a regulatory role within work-based relationships. ...
This paper offers a structured understanding of mediated social touch (MST) using a human-oriented approach, through an extensive review of literature spanning tactile interfaces, emotional information, mapping mechanisms, and the dynamics of human-human and human-robot interactions. By investigating the existing and exploratory mapping strategies of the 37 selected MST cases, we established the emotional expression space of MSTs that accommodated a diverse spectrum of emotions by integrating the categorical and Valence-arousal models, showcasing how emotional cues can be translated into tactile signals. Based on the expressive capacity of MSTs, a practical design space was structured encompassing factors such as the body locations, device form, tactile modalities, and parameters. We also proposed various design strategies for MSTs including workflow, evaluation methods, and ethical and cultural considerations, as well as several future research directions. MSTs' potential is reflected not only in conveying emotional information but also in fostering empathy, comfort, and connection in both human-human and human-robot interactions. This paper aims to serve as a comprehensive reference for design researchers and practitioners, which helps expand the scope of emotional communication of MSTs, facilitating the exploration of diverse applications of affective haptics, and enhancing the naturalness and sociability of haptic interaction.
... In this research, we seek to investigate whether traumatic events' harm to romantic relationships extends to one of the most common daily behaviors in romantic relationships, namely affectionate touch. Affectionate touch is defined as touch aiming to provoke feelings of love in both the receiver and the provider (Gulledge et al., 2003). In this study, we focus on affectionate touch behaviors, such as holding hands and hugging, which may or may not have a sexual purpose. ...
Past traumatic events negatively affect romantic relationships, yet their impact on affectionate touch, an important predictor of psychological and relational well-being, remains unknown. In two preregistered studies with nonclinical samples, we hypothesized that traumatic events are negatively associated with affectionate touch frequency for both the victim (i.e., actor effect) and their romantic partner (i.e., partner effect). We also expected this negative link to be stronger for the people perceiving relatively low responsiveness and/or high insensitivity in their partner. We used secondary data from 70 Swiss couples in Study 1 and collected data online from 441 couples living in the United States or United Kingdom in Study 2. All couples were heterosexual, and both studies were dyadic and cross-sectional. Unlike our hypotheses, analyses with Actor–Partner Interdependence Models revealed no negative associations between past traumatic events and affectionate touch. In Study 1, we found no significant actor effects but small-sized positive partner effects of men’s traumatic events on women’s affectionate touch frequency. In Study 2, however, two out of three actor effects and one partner effect were positive with negligible to small sizes. Neither perceived partner responsiveness nor insensitivity had a moderating role. The association between past traumatic experiences and affectionate touch was inconsistently nonsignificant or positive but consistently nonnegative across our two studies. Our research demonstrated that past traumatic events did not inhibit individuals from expressing love and care to their partner through affectionate touch in our sample, even for varying levels of perceived partner responsiveness (insensitivity).
... Affectionate touch -physical touch including hugging, hand-holding, kissing, and other forms of skin-to-skin contact that are intended to express affection -is a known contributor to relationship initiation, maintenance, and stability (Floyd, 2006;Floyd & Morman, 1998). Cross-sectional, experimental, and longitudinal studies have all linked affectionate touch with better relationship functioning and have demonstrated this association cross-culturally (e.g., Floyd et al., 2009;Gulledge et al., 2003;Heiman et al., 2011;Horan & Booth-Butterfield, 2010;Muise et al., 2014). For example, in a recent study, van Raalte et al. (2023) randomly assigned couples to either an increased cuddling condition, an increased time spent together condition, or a control condition. ...
Affectionate touch (e.g. hugging, handholding) is an essential component of many intimate relationships and is a primary contributor to overall relationship satisfaction as well as sexual satisfaction. Affectionate touch is understood to be a form of non-verbal communication in which the giver is expressing positive feelings toward the receiver. Here, we propose that affectionate touch also positively impacts receivers' body satisfaction, because affectionate touch is a positive message communicated toward the receiver's body. In a cross-sectional sample of romantically partnered women (N = 1,156), we assessed the association between affectionate touch frequency and body satisfaction. We also investigated whether affectionate touch is associated with relationship/sexual satisfaction in part because touch helps to improve women's evaluations of their own bodies. Our results showed that body satisfaction was a significant, partial mediator and a valid path through which affectionate touch shapes relationship quality. Receiving affectionate touch could bolster relationship satisfaction and self-perceptions among women. Given the prevalence of body dissatisfaction amongst women, these results suggest that the underexplored associations between affectionate touch and body satisfaction may have significant impacts on a wide array of future empirical and applied research trajectories.
... A romantikus kapcsolatokban élő egyének hajlamosak voltak a partnerek érintését úgy érzékelni, mint ami melegséget, szeretetet és elkötelezettséget fejez ki (Johson & Edwards, 1991;Pisano, Wall, & Foster, 1986). A romantikus kapcsolatokban tapasztalható gyakori szeretetteljes érintés nagyobb intimitással, kapcsolati elégedettséggel és elkötelezettséggel, kevesebb kapcsolati szorongással és a kapcsolat minőségének időbeli növekedésével járt (Debrot és mtsai, 2013;Gulledge, Gulledge & Stahmann, 2003). Az érintés elősegítette a párkapcsolat egészségét is (Jakubiak & Feeney, 2017). ...
Cél: A Brennan, Wu és Loev (1998) által kidolgozott Hét Érintés Skála egy 51 tételes önkitöltős kérdőív, mely az érintés iránti attitűdöket hivatott mérni a felnőttkori romantikus kapcsolatok kontextusában. Jelen tanulmány célja a kérdőív pszichometriai mutatóinak bemutatása a magyar mintán nyert adatokon. Módszer: Keresztmetszeti kérdőíves vizsgálatban 373 főtől (50,4% férfi 49,6% nő, átlagéletkor 33 év (szórás=10,5 év), 63% párkapcsolatban, 22% házasságban, 13% élettársi kapcsolatban él, a kapcsolatban eltöltött idő átlagosan 70,89 hónap (szórás=93,8 hónap) nyertünk adatokat. A kitöltők a demográfiai kérdések és a kötődés felmérését szolgáló kérdőív mellett kitöltötték a Hét Érintés Skálát. Eredmények: Mintánkon a Hét Érintés Skála magyar változata a megerősítő faktor elemzés (JASP programban, Rosseel, 2012) eredményei alapján az eredeti faktorstruktúrát mutatta. Az érintési attitűdökben különbséget találtunk a kötődés típusok között.
... Exchanging physical and/or emotional affection between partners is also a common positive communication strategy. For couples, physical affection including massage, kissing, and cuddling is associated with higher levels of satisfaction with a romantic partner and the relationship as a whole, and it helps couples to better cope with conflict (Gulledge et al., 2003). On the daily level, physical affection is associated with more positive emotions experienced that day for men and women in romantic couples (Debrot et al., 2017). ...
... Individuals who received physical touch on specific days with their partners reported enhanced closeness, relationship quality, perceived partner responsiveness, and accommodative behaviors compared to days without affectionate touch [10]. Indeed, touch represents an important component of the human experience that remains necessary for greater levels of relationship satisfaction, commitment, and conflict management [11][12][13][14]. Furthermore, touch may enhance social experiences for individuals, as gestures, such as handshakes, may indicate feelings of trust and gratitude towards the individual [7,15]. ...
Human contact through physical touch is a core element in social bonding, which facilitates psychosocial well-being. Touch avoidance is an individual disposition that may prevent individuals from engaging in or benefiting from physical touch. The present study recruited 450 Italian participants (51.1% female) with a mean age of 32.2 ± 13.5 to complete a battery of demographic questionnaires and the Touch Avoidance Questionnaire (TAQ). Individuals who were single and reporting same-sex attraction avoided touch with family more often than their coupled counterparts or those reporting opposite-sex attraction. Moreover, males reporting same-sex attraction avoided touch with a potential partner more frequently. When comparing sex differences, women reported greater touch avoidance with opposite-sex friends more frequently, while males avoided touch with same-sex friends more frequently. Individuals reporting opposite-sex attraction reported greater touch amongst same-sex friends. Single males avoided touch with same-sex friends more frequently than those in a relationship. Overall, this contribution reflects the individual differences related to social touch avoidance with respect to sex, relationship status, and sexual orientation in an Italian sample.
... For example, human touch can be affectionate (such as a casual caress or forehead touch), 'phatic' (such as a brief, reassuring pat or squeeze), culturally ritualistic (such as handshakes and kisses of greeting or parting) or even mediated by technology 22 . Most of the evidence in humans for a relationship between affectionate touch and non-kin attachment comes from correlational studies [23][24][25][26] . For instance, qualitative anthropological studies observed that affectionate touch (caresses) in naturally occurring situations between close social relations contributed to increased positive affective valence of social situations in humans [27][28][29] . ...
... Embora muitas pessoas em relacionamentos próximos já tenham essas expectativas, o toque pode reforçar proximidade do relacionamento e fornecer um lembrete importante do amor do próximo. Em geral, indivíduos que tocam com frequência em seus relacionamentos relatam maior estado de segurança, satisfação, compromisso e mais intimidade do que indivíduos que tocam com menos frequência (Gulledge & Stahmann, 2003;Heiman et al., 2011). Segundo Mason e Sbarra (2013), o toque afetivo positivo na vida adulta promove o bem estar relacional (como por exemplo, satisfação no relacionamento, compromisso, intimidade) bem estar físico (pressão arterial baixa, sintomas somáticos menores) e psicológico (humor positivo, dimunuição do estresse e ansiedade, mais alerta). ...
This article presents definitions of what touch is and its implications for human well-being / satisfaction with life. Measurable variables were considered, such as the frequency of interpersonal touch, perceived stress (PSS-14), familism, level of proximity (IOS), feelings of rejection / void (JGSL) and level of satisfaction with the relationship (PRQC). The sample here consists of 291 people, both genders. The used questionnaires were applied to a Brazilian sample, electronically and in paper. The data obtained suggests a weak relationship between touch and well-being / satisfaction with life, possibly due to a ceiling effect. This contrasts with the same skin to skin study carried out in other countries; demonstrating that the cultural factor is of great relevance. In addition, there was a significant correlation indicating that the greater the feeling of rejection / emptiness the subject feels, the lower the well-being / satisfaction with life. Moreover, there is a correlation between the act of touch practiced by participants and their respective levels of satisfaction with the relationship, influencing their well-being.
... Kissing and cuddling are the most common forms of physical intimacy between relationship partners, occurring far more often than genital touching, oral sex, and intercourse. [28][29][30] These nongenital forms of physical intimacy are associated with increased sexual arousal, 31 relationship and sexual satisfaction, 7,8,[32][33][34] and positive mood and relational feelings 35,36 and are often characterized as pleasurable alternatives to genital contact. 37,38 A couple's similarity in sexual arousal can be positively associated with the extent to which partners feel satisfied with the sexual event, as well as with their global sexual and relationship satisfaction levels, as shown by Busby et al. 7 In their study, women in couples with similar arousal levels reported higher satisfaction with the experience, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction, as compared with women in couples who experienced sexual arousal discrepancy, especially when women's arousal was lower than their partners'. ...
Background:
Although sexual arousal is commonly experienced in the daily context of relationships, most of what we know about sexual arousal comes from studies on individuals, often conducted in a laboratory context.
Aim:
To explore to what extent similarity in levels of sexual arousal during nongenital physical intimacy (ie, cuddling and kissing) was associated with each partner's affect as well as sexual and relationship satisfaction.
Methods:
Ninety-four cohabitating couples (mean ± SD age, 26.30 ± 7.60; 88 mixed gender, 6 same gender) completed 6 ecological momentary assessments a day for 10 consecutive days. We used response surface analysis to examine the associations among the degree and direction of similarity in partners' sexual arousal and affective, sexual, and relational outcome variables.
Outcomes:
Sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and positive and negative affect.
Results:
Sexual arousal levels covaried only when partners engaged in physically intimate behaviors, unlike affective responses, which covaried within couples more globally over time. Within-couple similarity at high levels of sexual arousal was positively associated with women's sexual satisfaction but unrelated to men and women's relationship satisfaction and affect. Individual- and couple-level sexual arousal was positively associated with men's sexual satisfaction and women's sexual and relationship satisfaction. Couple-level sexual arousal was relevant to men's affect such that positive affect was higher when sexual arousal levels within the couple were high. Our analyses also revealed a discrepancy effect in that women's positive affect was higher when their own sexual arousal levels were higher than those of their partners.
Clinical implications:
These findings suggest that as long as sexual arousal levels within a couple are sufficiently high, sexual arousal similarity and discrepancy can be beneficial to one's well-being, supporting the relevance of therapeutical techniques aimed at increasing arousal levels to promote a better affective and relational climate for couples.
Strengths and limitations:
This study is the first to test the daily associations among sexual arousal similarity and its correlates in a sample of cohabitating couples, providing a more comprehensive view of the interpersonal dynamics through which sexual arousal may influence individual, relational, and sexual well-being. Given our sample's relatively young age, as well as high sexual and relationship satisfaction, the results may not generalize to couples experiencing sexual or relational distress.
Conclusion:
Within the context of daily relationships, individual- and couple-level dynamics of sexual arousal were associated with sexual and relationship satisfaction, as well as with affective responses of relationship partners.
... Interpersonal touch is a crucial component of romantic relationships (Jakubiak & Feeney, 2017). Altered processing of social touch might blunt the drive to seek physical closeness or even result in an avoidance of interpersonal touch, which could negatively affect sexuality and the overall satisfaction in romantic relationships (Bell, Daly, & Gonzalez, 1987;Gulledge, Gulledge, & Stahmannn, 2003;Muise, Giang, & Impett, 2014). Eventually, this might lead to separation, which is again a predictor for worse illness trajectories (Law & Sbarra, 2009;Woods et al., 2021) and increased risk for suicidal behaviors (Calati et al., 2019). ...
Background:
Social touch is an integral part of social relationships and has been associated with reward. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by severe impairments in reward processing, but the neural effects of social touch in MDD are still elusive. In this study, we aimed to determine whether the neural processing of social touch is altered in MDD and to assess the impact of antidepressant therapy.
Methods:
Before and after antidepressant treatment, 53 MDD patients and 41 healthy controls underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while receiving social touch. We compared neural responses to social touch in the reward network, behavioral ratings of touch comfort and general aversion to interpersonal touch in patients to controls. Additionally, we examined the effect of treatment response on those measures.
Results:
Clinical symptoms decreased after treatment and 43.4% of patients were classified as responders. Patients reported higher aversion to interpersonal touch and lower comfort ratings during the fMRI paradigm than controls. Patients showed reduced responses to social touch in the nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus and putamen than controls, both before and after treatment. Contrary to our hypotheses, these effects were independent of touch velocity. Non-responders exhibited blunted response in the caudate nucleus and the insula compared to responders, again irrespective of time.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest altered striatal processing of social touch in MDD. Persistent dysfunctional processing of social touch despite clinical improvements may constitute a latent risk factor for social withdrawal and isolation.
... PDA occurs when Mexican couples, including those in same-sex relationships, display their physical intimacy in public. According to Gulledge et al. (2003), such physical affection includes handholding, touching, cuddling, caressing, hugging, and kissing. The authors argued that these gestures do not have to be an immediate precursor to sexual intercourse (p. ...
Muslim migration to Mexico is considered a new phenomenon, despite the longstanding Islamic-Iberian influence and Muslim presence in the country as a result of the Spanish conquest, slavery, Arab diaspora, globalisation, and local conversion. In the 21st century, the era in which Islamisation became visible, the ‘newcomers’ in the Muslim immigrant population are more racially and ethnically diverse than those who have been in Mexico for a longer time. They mostly settle in Mexico City and frequently immigrate through marriage with local citizens. However, little is known about who they are and what they do and think. This is because no significant in-depth research has been conducted on the presence of Muslim immigrants. Employing an interdisciplinary approach, the primary purpose of this research was to therefore examine how they adapt to the Mexican lifestyle and their experiences as Muslims in the country. The primary focus was on identity negotiation, which involved examining their metaperceptions and everyday religious practices across personal and social domains while performing what I conceptualize as Mexicanness. Rather than assuming that their religious characteristics are of ongoing importance, a better option was to consider the specific means by which immigrants understand or demonstrate religious meaning and identification in daily interrelationships. To achieve these aims, I employed an ethnographic approach consisting of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 43 informants, participant-observation, document analysis, informal conversations, and the collection of visual material (photographs and videos) during a 12-month period of fieldwork in Mexico in 2021. My original contribution to knowledge is to pioneer research on the Muslim population in Mexico by considering all immigrants together under the label of ‘Muslim immigrants’, and recognising the diversity that exists beyond Middle East sources while still considering each individual’s contestation of identity. In the historical chapter, my research expanded on the contemporary reasons that brought Muslims to Mexico and documented the
fast-growing interest in ḥalāl. The main findings were as follows: concerning metaperceptions, I argue that because of Mexico’s welcoming culture toward foreigners, the deep-embedded history that values foreigners in the doctrine of mestizaje, the lack of pre-existing ideas and personal experience with Muslims, and the absence of inflammatory political debates, these Muslims experienced highly positive and welcoming attitudes that helped forge the creation of an unstigmatised
Muslim identity. Islamophobia was almost non-existent except for a small
intersectionality of discrimination for being dark-skinned. On the other hand, the Muslim identity is viewed as exotic, rich, unique, and foreign. I argue that even though it is sometimes rather challenging to fulfil religious practices and obligations in a catholic-dominant environment, particularly when local Muslim communities are too small to provide assistance, Muslims do not move to Mexico holding very conservative, traditional religious views and rigid attitudes. They are very much integrated into host societies by performing Mexicanness, mainly through language, inter-cultural marriage, food, and culture. Finally, various identity negotiation strategies are
deployed, primarily to educate locals about their religious identity, as opposed to assimilation due to threat or stigma. This indicates that host members do not view Muslims as a threat to their nation, therefore these foreigners did not feel compelled to radicalise their faith in order to secure legitimacy.
... Although research on affectionate touch within close relationships has been studied less extensively than other forms of intimacy (see Jakubiak & Feeney, 2017 for review), affectionate touch has also been linked to better relationship outcomes. Findings from correlational studies have shown that self-reported frequency of affectionate touch is negatively associated with relationship distress and positively associated with relationship satisfaction, commitment, satisfaction with sex, and adaptive conflict resolution (Brennan et al., 1998;Gulledge et al., 2003;Mackey et al., 2000). More recent studies using daily diary designs have extended on these correlational studies. ...
Internalized heterosexism has been linked to poor relationship outcomes among sexual minority individuals. However, there is a dearth of research examining how internalized heterosexism is associated with intimate behaviors, such as verbal intimacy and affectionate touch. Furthermore, there are no studies that utilize behavioral observation to examine these associations in contexts expected to pull for intimate behaviors, such as a positive relationship discussion. Using a multimethod approach, we investigated associations between self-reported internalized heterosexism and observed intimate behaviors during a positive relationship discussion using data of 72 sexual minority couples. We hypothesized that internalized heterosexism would be related to lower engagement in intimate behaviors. Bivariate intraclass correlations confirmed that internalized heterosexism was negatively associated with couple-level verbal intimacy and individual-level affectionate touch provision. Results of multiple linear regression indicated that internalized heterosexism accounted for a significant portion of variance in verbal intimacy displayed by couples. In addition, we found a statistically significant actor effect of internalized heterosexism on affectionate touch provision using an actor–partner interdependence model. Specifically, participants with higher internalized heterosexism provided their partner with less affectionate touch than those with lower internalized heterosexism. Our findings suggest that clinicians working with sexual minority couples presenting with intimacy-related problems should consider assessing internalized heterosexism to better inform case conceptualization and treatment planning.
... All three of the aforementioned indicators of couple engagement have been linked to greater sexual intimacy and higher relationship quality (Berg et al., 2001;Gulledge et al., 2003;Johnson et al., 2006;Sharaievska et al., 2013;Dobson et al., 2020). However, few studies have visited couple engagement as a possible explanatory mechanism (i.e., mediator) of economic distress on sexual intimacy within the context of remarital unions . ...
Introduction
Economic distress and the relationship stability of remarried couples has been subject to some exploration, but less emphasis has been placed on how economic distress among remarried couples impacts other relationship domains, particularly sexual intimacy.
Methods
Through the lens of multidimensional family development theory (MFDT), this study utilizes longitudinal data over a three-year period to examine the links between economic distress, couple engagement, relationship satisfaction, and perceptions of sexual intimacy among remarried couples (n = 1,161 couples; 97% White).
Results
Through a dyadic structural equation model, results showed that wives’ report of economic distress was directly related to their self-rejection of a partner’s sexual advances. Findings also revealed gender differences in how both relationship satisfaction and couple engagement influenced one to accept or reject their partner’s sexual advances, with couple engagement acting as a significant predictor for wives. Relationship satisfaction was also found to explain (i.e., mediate) the relation between economic distress and sexual intimacy, but only for husbands.
Discussion
Implications for further research and interventions designed to strengthen the relationships of remarried couples dealing with economic distress and intimacy issues are offered.
... On the day of this intervention participants completed additional questions in the evening survey about the type of physical affection shown, given that they previously indicated having implemented the task. Based on categories identified by Gulledge et al. (2003), they could choose between the following options (multiple options could be selected): giving a massage, caressing, cuddling, holding hands, hugging, kisses on the lips, kisses on the face/ body, as well as sex or other (which included a follow-up query for specification). They were further asked to indicate on a continuous slider with answers ranging from not at all (=0) to very strongly (=10), how much the physical affection shown went beyond usual levels. ...
Relationship closeness is considered an important psychological variable for studying couple relationships, and is often postulated as cause for important relationship outcomes. The current study evaluates four micro-interventions for their suitability to experimentally elicit feelings of closeness towards one’s partner. Using participants’ smartphones, and a combination of experience sampling, event sampling, and ecological momentary interventions, individuals reported for a week on their experiences of closeness before and after completing daily either a neutral task or a task meant to enhance relationship closeness. The closeness tasks included showing physical affection, sharing a childhood memory, looking each other in the eyes for five minutes, and discussing shared life achievements. Results of intention-to-treat analyses on a within-person level showed that closeness increased from pre- to post-measurement on average more strongly on days of any of the four examined closeness conditions than on days of the neutral control conditions. Interindividual variability of this effect was observed, emphasizing the relevance of using within-person designs to evaluate such interventions. Exploratory analyses showed that effect sizes declined across time within the day. This study provides instruments for research on causal effects of closeness in everyday relationship life, and an evidence basis for smartphone-delivered interventions in practitioner settings.
... Whereas touching the arms and hands is considered mostly neutral, touching other parts of the body can mean and be perceived in several different ways, that are contextdependent and can range from positive (Willis and Briggs, 1992;Suvilehto et al., 2015) to highly unpleasant and intrusive (Lee and Guerrero, 2001). While a causal role of social touch for short-term partner choice might be questionable (Herz and Cahill, 1997), it gets clear that the quality of affective touch is tightly linked to relationship satisfaction in adult romantic couples (Gulledge et al., 2003;Hertenstein et al., 2006;Wagner et al., 2020) and, therefore, might be an important factor for long-term mate choice. ...
Mate choice is a potent generator of diversity and a fundamental pillar for sexual selection and evolution. Mate choice is a multistage affair, where complex sensory information and elaborate actions are used to identify, scrutinize, and evaluate potential mating partners. While widely accepted that communication during mate assessment relies on multimodal cues, most studies investigating the mechanisms controlling this fundamental behavior have restricted their focus to the dominant sensory modality used by the species under examination, such as vision in humans and smell in rodents. However, despite their undeniable importance for the initial recognition, attraction, and approach towards a potential mate, other modalities gain relevance as the interaction progresses, amongst which are touch and audition. In this review, we will: (1) focus on recent findings of how touch and audition can contribute to the evaluation and choice of mating partners, and (2) outline our current knowledge regarding the neuronal circuits processing touch and audition (amongst others) in the context of mate choice and ask (3) how these neural circuits are connected to areas that have been studied in the light of multisensory integration.
... Among other maintenance strategies, the studies examined positivity (e.g., upbeat during conversations, avoiding criticism), assurance (e.g., expressions of love, affirming commitment), social networks (e.g., spending time with common friends) and sharing tasks (e.g., engaging in household chores), which also resemble some aspects of the Words of Affirmation, Quality Time or Acts of service LLs. In addition, romantic physical touch was previously found to be strongly correlated with the relationship and partner satisfaction [51]. Receiving gifts was yet another factor that was previously found to be positively associated with the relationship strength, perceived similarity, as well as evaluation of the relationships' future potential [e.g. ...
Chapman’s Love Languages hypothesis claims that (1) people vary in the ways they prefer to receive and express affection and (2) romantic partners who communicate their feelings congruent with their partner’s preferences experience greater relationship quality. The author proposes five distinct preferences and tendencies for expressing love, including: Acts of Service, Physical Touch, Words of Affirmation, Quality Time and Gifts. In the present study partners (N = 100 heterosexual couples) completed measures assessing their preferences and behavioral tendencies for a) expressions of love and b) reception of signs of affection, for each of the five proposed “love languages”. Relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction and empathy were also assessed. The degree of the within-couple mismatch was calculated separately for each individual based on the discrepancies between the person’s felt (preferred) and their partner’s expressed love language. The joint mismatch indicator was a sum of discrepancies across the five love languages. Matching on love languages was associated with both relationship and sexual satisfaction. In particular, people who expressed their affection in the way their partners preferred to receive it, experienced greater satisfaction with their relationships and were more sexually satisfied compared to those who met their partner’s needs to lesser extent. Empathy was expected to be a critical factor for better understanding of and responding to the partner’s needs. Results provided some support for this hypothesis among male but not female participants.
... The impact of social touch on social attachment is not just limited to the parentchild relationship, but also in other intimate relationships. When we feel alone or anxious, a warm hug or hand held in a warm hand by the partner can positively impact our mental state, and create an affective connection between couples [75]. Recent research has shown that the social touch performed between couples could lead to the release of oxytocin in our brains, which helps lower stress levels and blood pressure, provide trust and security, and further help form a lasting social relationship [76]. ...
As one of the most important non-verbal communication channels, touch is widely used for different purposes. It is a powerful force in human physical and psychological development, shaping social structures as well as communicating emotions. However, even though current information and communication technology (ICT) systems enable the use of various non-verbal languages, the support of communicating through the sense of touch is still insufficient. Inspired by the cross-modal interaction of human perception, the approach I present in this dissertation is to use multimodality to improve mediated touch interaction. Following this approach, I present three devices that provide empirical contributions to multimodal touch interaction: VisualTouch, SansTouch, and In-Flat. To understand if multimodal stimuli can improve the emotional perception of touch, I present the VisualTouch device, and quantitatively evaluate the cross-modal interaction between the visual and tactile modality. To investigate the use of different modalities in real touch communication, I present the SansTouch device, which provides empirical insights on multimodal interaction and skin-like touch generation in the context of face-to-face communication. Going one step forward in the use of multimodal stimuli in touch interaction, I present the In-Flat device, an input/output touch overlay for smartphones. In-Flat not only provides further insights on the skin-like touch generation, but also a better understanding of the role that mediated touch plays in more general contexts. In summary, this dissertation strives to bridge the gap between touch communication and HCI, by contributing to the design and understanding of multimodal stimuli in mediated touch interaction.
... The current study fills this gap by examining the impact of AFE on customer RET through the intermediaries' variables. This research complements empirical data by examining the direct effects of affection on trust (La and Choi 2012), satisfaction (Gulledge et al. 2003), loyalty (Chi and Han 2020), and retention (Yim et al. 2008). In some aspect, the current article builds on the work of Parawansa (2018), by integrating satisfaction as a mediating variable to examine customer retention. ...
In a context of increasing competition among financial service institutions, customer affection, and retention are a key factor for survival and success. The main goal of the study is to understand how affection effects customer retention in the presence of trust, satisfaction, and loyalty. Structural equation modelling (SEM) with mediation analysis is used on a sample of 940 to evaluate the model. The finding of this study showed that trust alone is not sufficient in mediating the relationship between affection and retention. However, trust, in combination with satisfaction and loyalty, acts as an intermediary between affection and retention. These results can help commercial banks to understand the causes for customer retention in a rapidly changing and competitive environment.
... Within mixed-sex romantic relationships, those who report more affectionate touch with their partner show better relationship functioning, including increased relationship satisfaction (Floyd et al., 2009), better conflict resolution (Gulledge et al., 2003), and reduced likelihood of divorce (Huston et al., 2001). Partners who share affectionate touch also experience psychological and physical health benefits: better life satisfaction (Debrot et al., 2017), increased positive mood (Debrot et al., 2013), reduced mental stress (Floyd et al., 2009), and a more efficient physiological stress response (Ditzen et al., 2008;Floyd, 2006). ...
This study compared public versus private affection-sharing experiences of individuals in mixed-sex (N = 1018), same-sex (N = 561), and gender-diverse (N = 96) relationships. Private affection-sharing was similar across groups, except those in mixed-sex relationships reported somewhat less comfort doing so. Despite having a stronger desire to engage in public affection-sharing, those in same-sex and gender-diverse relationships shared public affection less frequently, were less comfortable doing so, refrained from doing so more often, and experienced much higher levels of vigilance related to public affection-sharing, compared to those in mixed-sex relationships. Heightened PDA-related vigilance may have health consequences, as higher levels were associated with worse psychological and physical well-being in all groups. However, individuals in same-sex relationships showed weaker associations between vigilance and well-being than those in mixed-sex relationships, suggesting possible resilience. Still, engaging in vigilance may take its toll, potentially serving as a mechanism through which minority stress works its effects. When we controlled for PDA-related vigilance, psychological and physical well-being levels in same-sex relationships increased relative to mixed-sex peers.
... Like sexual behaviors, affectionate behaviors are salient within romantic relationships and carry important relational meaning (Floyd, 1997;Jakubiak & Feeney, 2017). For example, prominent sexual script theory (Wiederman, 2005) suggests that women are more likely than men to express affectionate emotions and to engage in or desire affectionate behaviors such as holding hands or cuddling (Floyd, 1997;Gulledge et al., 2003;Muise et al., 2014). ...
Prior experience with physical behaviors - both sexual and affectionate - is common among adults in romantic relationships. However, less is known about differences in physical behaviors for asexual and allosexual adults, and these differences may explain how asexual adults navigate sexuality in romantic relationships. In this study we used sexual script theory to examine asexual (n = 109; 59% women; Mage = 27.7) and allosexual adults' (n = 403; 58% women; Mage = 29.0) prior experiences with and future likelihood to engage in sexual and affectionate behaviors in romantic relationships, and how these differences vary by gender. Asexual adults had less prior experience with and were less likely to intend to engage in future physical behaviors than allosexual adults. There were some gender differences in past experience and future likelihood. Prior experience with physical behaviors was associated with expected likelihood to engage in these behaviors for allosexual and asexual adults, although the association was stronger for asexual adults. These results have implications for how asexual adults engage in physical behaviors, and how differing interest in physical behaviors may cause conflict within asexual-allosexual couples.
... People with higher relationship quality report greater desire for touch (especially intimate forms of touch), are more motivated to touch to approach positive outcomes, and are less motivated to touch to avoid negative outcomes than those with lower relationship quality (Jakubiak et al., 2021a(Jakubiak et al., , 2021b. Additionally, people with higher relationship quality report greater actual engagement in affectionate touch (Gulledge et al., 2003;Mackey et al., 2000). ...
Past research has shown consistent benefits associated with and resulting from affectionate touch, though past research is based almost exclusively on highly satisfied and otherwise non-representative samples. The current research used two nationally representative samples to test correlates (Study 1) and anticipated consequences (Study 2) of affectionate touch in romantic relationships. In Study 1, greater kissing frequency was associated with greater individual well-being, and these links were especially pronounced in the most satisfying relationships. In Study 2, participants who were randomly assigned to imagine receiving affectionate touch from their spouse anticipated greater individual well-being (less stress and greater life satisfaction) and relational benefits (greater perceived partner affection, state security, cognitive interdependence, and relationship quality). These benefits were stronger among people with moderate or high relationship satisfaction but observed even for the subset of individuals (approximately one-third of the sample) who rated their relationships as “distressed.” Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
... More than that, when commitment is considered, the mediation of SDC is in line with the long-established empirical link between commitment and couple satisfaction (Le & Agnew, 2003;Rusbult & Buunk, 1993). Other consistent findings in past research indicate that affection and expressing affection promote couple satisfaction, a result the present study also endorses, through the mediational effect of SDC (Dainton et al., 1994;Floyd et al., 2005;Gulledge et al., 2003). Nonetheless SDC does not mediate the relation between all dimensions of intimacy and couple satisfaction, results which could also be explained by variables other than SDC. ...
Intimacy and couple satisfaction are some of the main factors related to relationship quality. Likewise, intimacy has long been associated with couple satisfaction as it is one of its most important predictors. Another meaningful correlation of couple satisfaction is supportive dyadic coping, which correlates with the satisfaction in marital and non-marital couples. This present study is aimed to investigate the associations of intimacy and couple satisfaction and to explore the mediating role of supportive dyadic coping. The sample is composed of 105 emerging adults involved in a romantic relationship, who filled up three self-reporting scales. The results indicate that intimacy predicts both couple satisfaction and supportive dyadic coping. Moreover, supportive dyadic coping fully mediates the relationship between overall intimacy / intimate commitment and couple satisfaction. Also, supportive dyadic coping partially mediates the relationship between intimate openness / affection and couple satisfaction. The possible explanations and implications for therapeutical interventions are discussed.
... First, while the conceptualization of intimacy in both the FFP and the underlying model of Reis and Shaver is closely related to what other researchers (e.g., Sinclair & Dowdy, 2005;Yoo et al., 2014) define as emotional intimacy, sexual intimacy aspects such as being physically close, disclosing sexual desires, touch, and physical and non-physical sexual affection (Field, 2010;Holt et al., 2009;Mills & Turnbull, 2004;Popovic, 2005;Prager, 1995;Schaefer & Olson, 1981) are lacking. The fact that research has independently linked emotional as well as sexual aspects of intimate behaviors to personal and relationship well-being (Ditzen et al., 2008;Field, 2010;Gulledge et al., 2003;Laurenceau et al., 2005;Loving & Slatcher, 2013;Marshall, 2008;Mehta et al., 2016;Sprecher & Hendrick, 2004;Sprecher et al., 2013aSprecher et al., , 2013b underlines the importance of considering both emotional and sexual intimacy in experimental research. Therefore, on the one hand, experimental paradigms that include sexual intimacy aspects are needed. ...
The Fast Friends Procedure (FFP) is a widely used experimental paradigm to induce emotional intimacy. Besides exploring the validity of a German translation of the paradigm (n = 46), we developed an extension of the FFP that induces sexual intimacy and assessed heart rate, high-frequency heart rate variability, and electrodermal activity responses to the FFP and its extension. Furthermore, we examined its applicability to individuals with childhood maltreatment (n = 56), who frequently suffer from intimacy-related difficulties. Intimacy, positive affect, liking, and attraction increased during the FFP and partly during the sexual intimacy extension in both study groups. Moreover, both groups showed physiological responses consistent with positive social interactions. The use of the German FFP and its sexual intimacy extension can thus be recommended for research in the general population and in individuals with childhood maltreatment, although more studies are needed to further validate the paradigms.
This paper offers a structured understanding of mediated social touch (MST) using a human-oriented approach, through an extensive review of literature spanning tactile interfaces, emotional information, mapping mechanisms, and the dynamics of human–human and human–robot interactions. By investigating the existing and exploratory mapping strategies of the 37 selected MST cases, we established the emotional expression space of MSTs that accommodated a diverse spectrum of emotions by integrating the categorical and Valence–Arousal model, showcasing how emotional cues can be translated into tactile signals. Based on the expressive capacity of MSTs, a practical design space was structured encompassing factors such as the body locations, device form, tactile modalities and parameters. We also proposed various design strategies for MSTs including work-flow, evaluation methods, and ethical and cultural considerations, as well as several future research directions. MSTs’ potential is reflected not only in conveying emotional information but also in fostering empathy, comfort, and connection in both human–human and human–robot interactions. This paper aims to serve as a comprehensive reference for design researchers and practitioners, which helps expand the scope of emotional communication of MSTs, facilitating the exploration of diverse applications of affective haptics, and enhancing the naturalness and sociability of haptic interaction.
The purpose of this study is to offer a refined scale for the brand happiness construct, and distinguish its measurement items to other similar constructs (belonging, attachment, and likability) these concepts, though often used interchangeably in research, differ significantly and can lead to misinterpretation. In order to gain a deep understanding of the research phenomena, a qualitative approach was employed, incorporating nine in-depth interviews and four focus groups with both marketing academics and customers, to explore these constructs in greater detail. Utilising the ‘brand happiness scale’ by Bruhn and Schnebelen (Die Unternehmung 71:464–490, 2017), the study assessed its effectiveness in measuring brand happiness. Findings from the interviews and focus groups revealed that while the scale is robust, an additional factor ‘perceived quality’ emerged as a key contributor to consumer brand happiness. Incorporating this dimension into the scale could enhance its accuracy in capturing the full spectrum of brand happiness. This research contributes to academia by clarifying conceptual overlaps and proposing a refined measurement of brand happiness, which could lead to more precise theoretical frameworks. From a managerial perspective, understanding the distinct roles of brand happiness, attachment, belonging, and likability can aid in better targeting and improving consumer–brand relationships. Incorporating perceived quality into brand strategy may help companies foster stronger emotional connections with consumers, enhancing brand loyalty and long-term success. Numerous implications for academics and managers are highlighted.
Pre-arranged marriages, deeply rooted in various cultural traditions, involve the orchestration of unions by families. This practice has unique challenges, adjustments, and triumphs within this marital context. However, this practice has received little attention and understanding in the locality, hence the study was conducted. Mainly, the paper focused on exploring the challenges, dynamics, and outcomes of pre-arranged marriage within the context of the B’laan culture in Davao del Sur, Philippines. A qualitative case study was employed with three (3) participants from Davao del Sur who were carefully selected and willingly took part in the study. Findings revealed that in pre-arranged marriage, couples struggled to establish communication, accept unpleasant habits, establish intimacy, and adjust individual preferences in their relationship. Nevertheless, they could cope with this by building connections, sharing responsibility, and having quality time nurturing their union. The study’s findings reflected the uniqueness of individuals, their life choices, paths taken, and subsequent consequences. These success stories of pre-arranged marriage in B’laan culture can provide valuable perspectives on how couples navigate challenges, build trust, and maintain strong relationships. The implications of this study are for society to create safe spaces for these individuals and implement programs that would offer valuable insights and perspectives that could benefit various groups, contributing to greater understanding, empathy, and support for couples in pre-arranged marriages. Keywords: case study, Philippines, pre-arranged marriage, psychology, triumphs
Elméleti háttér: Az affektív érintés (azaz a szőrös bőrfelület lassú simogatása) humán hatásaival kapcsolatos pszichológiai és pszichofiziológiai tudásanyag az elmúlt két évtizedben megtöbbszöröződött. Cél: Narratív összefoglalónk célja e friss empirikus tudásanyag, valamint az azt magyarázó elméletek bemutatása. Eredmények: Az empirikus eredmények az affektív érintés akut fájdalomcsillapító és stresszcsökkentő hatását sugallják. Az érintést közvetítő receptorok aktivitása emellett hozzájárulhat a testséma fenntartásához. Jelentős egyéni különbségek mutatkoznak az affektív érintésre való fogé- konyságban (az érintés észlelt kellemességében), ezek mögött részben a kötődési stílus különbségei húzódhatnak meg. Következtetések: Evolúciós szempontból az affektív érintés a homeosztázis fenntar- tásának szociális eszközeként közelíthető meg, csecsemőkortól egészen felnőttkorig.
الأهداف: تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى البحث في العلاقة بين السعادة الزوجية والتواصل الوجداني وتحليل أهمية التواصل بين الزوجين وتأثيره في مستوى سعادتهما في حياتهما الزوجية. المنهجية: لقياس المتغيرين،استُخدم مقياس السعادة الزوجية الذي وضعه محمد بن علي معشي، ومقياس التواصل العاطفي بين الزوجين الذي طورته عائشة أحمد ناصر. وقدطُبّق المقياسين على عينة من 30 متزوجًا من مدينة فاس بالمملكة المغربية جرى اختيارهم بطريقة عشوائية. النتائج: تشير النتائج إلى أن درجة الاتصال الوجداني المرتفعة ترتبط ارتباطًا وثيقًا بدرجات السعادة الزوجية الأعلى (r = 0.91؛P <0.01). بالإضافة إلى ذلك، فإن الرضا الجنسي للشريك يعكس نوعية التواصل الوجداني ودرجة السعادة الزوجية. بمعنى آخر، عندما يكون الشريكان راضيان جنسيًا عن بعضهما البعض، فمن المرجح أن يكون لديهما تواصل وجداني جيد ودرجة سعادة زوجية عالية عند مستوى 0,001P <، مع تمايز غير مهم بين الجنسين. لكن المتغيرين لهما علاقة ارتباطية عكسية متوسطة ودالة إحصائيًا عند 0,001P < مع العمر ومدة الزواج وعدد الأبناء؛ فكلما زاد العمر، أو طالت مدة الزواج، أو زاد عدد الأبناء، كانت الدرجة المرتبطة بالتواصل الوجداني والسعادة الزوجية أقل. الخلاصة: يمكن الاستدلال بأن التواصل الوجداني المرتفع والرضا الجنسي للشريك هما عوامل مهمة في تعزيز السعادة الزوجية، في حين يمكن أن تؤثر العوامل العمرية والزواجية والأسرية في هذه العلاقة على نحو سلبي.
Touch is one of our love languages. In addition to the fact that we use touch to express love, I explore its role and significance in our lives. In the present work, drawing on the growing literature, I focus on affective touch, including received touch, in the context of adult romantic relationships. After defining affective touch, I discuss its beneficial effects. Based on research results, I show that affective touch in the context of relationships is related to physical, mental, and relational health and well-being. But not always and not for everyone. Thus, I cover some of the factors affecting touch behaviour and attitude. I discuss separately the phenomenon where, still within the couple relationship and remaining in the field of affective touch, the touch itself becomes a source of stress. We have all experienced the effects of measures taken to control the epidemic, such as social distancing and avoidance of touch. In this context, I present some of the results of our research on COVID. All of these are excerpts. I hope they will inspire others to further research. Keywords: affective touch, adult partnership, well-being
The chapter discusses a variety of psychological factors that influence attraction. The chapter describes love as a psychological attraction, focusing on the qualities, intensity, and strength of emotions. Affectionate, passionate, obsessive, para-social, and romantic attraction are several types of psychological attractions defined here.
Then, the chapter describes the dialectics of psychological similarities and differences between individuals determining the types of attraction. The dialectics of happiness and unhappiness, attraction and repulsion, create the appealing bittersweet nature of love as an attraction.
Proximity, reciprocity, and the dynamics of interpersonal interaction also determine psychological attraction. The psychological dynamics of interpersonal attraction involve certainty, the need for closure, familiarity, and stability on the one hand and uncertainty, novelty, and instability on the other. Transformations of psychological arousal, such as arousal and excitation transfers, the extrinsic arousal effect, and the opponent process, can inspire interpersonal attraction.
The chapter shows how autonomy and interdependence between individuals generate their attraction to each other. The desires for psychological union, complementarity, and self-expansion become the ultimate drivers of interpersonal attraction.
The two last sections review the findings, which demonstrate the role of personality traits and rational and practical motivation in interpersonal attraction. In this context, the author presents attraction theories that are based on the motivating roles of reinforcement, exchange, and reward.
The chapter explains how the concepts of physical and sexual attraction differ from each other. The materials of the chapter describe the ideas and research on beauty and physical attractiveness.
The chapter demonstrates how attractive physical appearance influences overall interpersonal attraction. Evolutionary, ecological, social, cultural, and psychological perspectives show that the values and notions of physical attractiveness depend on many of these contextual factors. The studies reviewed in the chapter have demonstrated variability in preferences for physical appearances across cultures.
The chapter presents research findings that reveal the effects of familiarity, imprinting, and exposure on the impressions of how physically attractive a person looks. The features of physical attractiveness are sexually polymorphic and differ between genders. The sections of this chapter provide an overview of the qualities of physical appearance that make a person attractive, as well as multisensory qualities of attractive appearance, including visual, auditory, tactile-kinesthetic, olfactory, and gustatory modalities of sensation and perception.
The chapter describes in detail how people experience and express physical and sexual attraction. The last section of the chapter presents varieties of sexual attraction in love that depend on sexual identities, sexual orientations, and factors influencing diversity in sexual attraction.
There appears to be no attempt to categorize the specific classes of behavior that the tactile system underpins. Awareness of how an organism uses touch in their environment informs understanding of its versatility in non-verbal communication and tactile perception. This review categorizes the behavioral functions underpinned by the tactile sense, by using three sources of data: (1) Animal data, to assess if an identified function is conserved across species; (2) Human capacity data, indicating whether the tactile sense can support a proposed function; and (3) Human impaired data, documenting the impacts of impaired tactile functioning (e.g., reduced tactile sensitivity) for humans. From these data, three main functions pertinent to the tactile sense were identified: Ingestive Behavior; Environmental Hazard Detection and Management; and Social Communication. These functions are reviewed in detail and future directions are discussed with focus on social psychology, non-verbal behavior and multisensory perception.
Háttér/Háttér és célkitűzések: Az „Életünk a korona-vírus járvány idején” kutatás adatait használva ebben a tanulmányban annak jártunk utána, hogy milyen érintési kultúrával jellemezhetők az általunk vizsgált házas, párjukkal együtt élő személyek; hogyan alakították érintési szokásaikat a járvány megfékezésére elrendelt korlátozások rövidebb és hosszabb távon; illetve hogyan alakult az érintésvágyuk és a kapcsolati jóllétben megélt változásaik, valamint ezek kapcsolata az általunk vizsgált időszakban. Módszer: Három érintés típus (bizalmas, baráti, hivatalos) észlelt mennyiségét mértük fel a COVID-19 előtt, a korlátozások alatt és aktuálisan, illetve azt, hogy a megkérdezett mennyire vágyik az adott érintésre. A kapcsolati jóllét mérésére a „családi és társas kapcsolatok mérése” részből a párral való kapcsolat szubjektív minősítéseit, illetve „a járvány hatására milyen változásokat észlelt Ön a saját életében? – a párkapcsolatában” kérdésre adott válaszokat használtuk. Főbb eredmények: Az általunk vizsgált házas, illetve párjukkal együtt élő, kapcsolatukkal 80,4%-ban elégedett 780 személy mintáján talált összefüggéseink szerint mindhárom időszakra vonatkozóan azt találtuk, hogy minél elégedettebb a megkérdezett személy a kapcsolatával, annál több bizalmas érintésben részesül (illetve fordítva), valamint a kapcsolattal való elégedettségnek a bizalmas érintés mennyisége szignifikáns prediktora. Az általunk vizsgált három időszakra vonatkozóan azt találtuk, hogy a COVID-19 a kapcsolatukkal különböző mértékben elégedett valamennyi csoport kapcsolati minőségére kedvezőtlenül hatott, és az érintés mennyiség visszaállás a kapcsolatával elégedetlen csoportnál kevéssé történt meg. A járvány következtében megélt párkapcsolati változások és az érintés deficit enyhe, de szignifikáns összefüggést mutatott. Azok, akik magasabb érintési deficitet jeleznek a párkapcsolati változásokat is kedvezőtlenebbként ítélték meg. Következtetések: A COVID-19 világjárvány pontos hatásaival a párok párkapcsolati működésére és stabilitására még most ismerkedünk. Jelen vizsgálat keretében egy lehetséges védő tényező – érintési szokások, annak változásai – szerepét vizsgáltuk. Eredményeink jelzik, hogy érdemben lehet foglalkozni az affektív érintéssel ahhoz, hogy enyhítsük a válság kapcsolatokra gyakorolt lehetséges káros hatásait, és kulcsfontosságú irányokat kínálhatunk a jövőbeli kutatások számára.
Why do people fall in love? Does passion fade with time? What makes for a happy, healthy relationship? This introduction to relationship science follows the lifecycle of a relationship – from attraction and initiation, to the hard work of relationship maintenance, to dissolution and ways to strengthen a relationship. Designed for advanced undergraduates studying psychology, communication or family studies, this textbook presents a fresh, diversity-infused approach to relationship science. It includes real-world examples and critical-thinking questions, callout boxes that challenge students to make connections, and researcher interviews that showcase the many career paths of relationship scientists. Article Spotlights reveal cutting-edge methods, while Diversity and Inclusion boxes celebrate the variety found in human love and connection. Throughout the book, students see the application of theory and come to recognize universal themes in relationships as well as the nuances of many findings. Instructors can access lecture slides, an instructor manual, and test banks.
Nigeria has been inundated by a lot of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, Niger Delta Militants, Bandits, ISWAP (Islamic Republic of West African Province), Unknown gunmen and Al-Quaeda who make life unbearable for citizens. Force and rule of law have been deployed to correct these ills but to no avail. This paper therefore investigates the effectiveness of love language as a catalyst to stopping terrorism tendencies in Nigeria. The research is an eclectic study adopting Chapman's theory of love language and Social Interactionist theory. Data was collected purposely from 30 juveniles under correction in some schools' disciplinary committee. The Needs assessment design was used in the analysis. Findings show that humans respond positively to love language, denial of love language expressions can lead to deviant behaviours but its use encourages stronger relationship amongst citizens and thus helps in prevention of terrorist activities. Having highlighted the various causes of terrorism in Nigeria, this study illustrates various ways that could be deployed in correcting deviant behaviours using love language. The study recommends that Nigerian government should prevent radicalization of citizens by deploying love language approach.
This chapter “Models of passionate and affectionate love” describes these two models comprehensively, in a consolidated way. Basic components of passionate model are considered in cross-cultural perspective, demonstrating its ubiquitous nature and cultural variety. The chapter also highlights affectionate and muted models of love, which are less visible in modern scholarship, yet widely present in the older centuries and in many modern societies.KeywordsConcept of passionPassion of loveFunctions of passionConcept of affectionAffection of loveUbiquitous passion of love across culturesPassionate love as a cultural ideaAffectionate love as a cultural ideaPassion as a cultural ideaPassion as an experienceExpression of passionExpressive passionMuted passion
Numerous physiological, medical and psychological studies and recent laboratory experiments show that frequent listening to the Noble Qur’an has many benefits, including: activating theta and alpha brain waves, which are brain waves that are active during states of relaxation, calm and sleep, and helps to strengthen the immune system, increase creativity, increase the ability to focus and strengthen memory, Reducing mental disorders, psychological calm, treating nervous tension, treating anger and recklessness, and increasing the ability to make sound decisions and personality development. Hearing the Noble Qur’an is a complementary treatment for many chronic and incurable diseases. This book deals with many important topics that deal with the scientific miracle of listening to the Noble Qur’an in the treatment of many psychological and physical disorders. How does listening to the Noble Qur’an affect the human body and cause many physiological changes that have been proven by recent scientific studies and experiments. In this book, we present five chapters: Voice therapy in the Holy Qur'an (theoretical and conceptual basis). And the effects of hearing the Noble Qur’an on organic patients. Psychological and social effects of listening and memorizing the Holy Quran. Physiological effects of listening to the Holy Quran. And the effects of hearing the Noble Qur’an on psychiatric patients, in addition to psychological and religious excerpts.
Resilience is the process by which individuals adapt successfully to acute or chronic challenge and adversity (see Preface, this volume). Initially studied in developmental contexts, it is now a focus in adult psychology, where it vies with risk-based models to explain behavior and health-related outcomes. Resilience researchers ask “Why are most people able to overcome trauma or misfortune, even to thrive in their wake, whereas others are critically damaged by these experiences?” Some answers to this question suggest a powerful resiliencepromoting role for interpersonal relationships and social connection (Cacioppo, Reis, & Zautra, 2011). As noted by Berkman and colleagues, relationships influence well-being by providing opportunities for social integration and engagement, giving and receiving social support, influencing and being influenced by others, experiencing positive and negative social interactions, and feeling companionship or loneliness (Berkman, Glass, Brissette, & Seeman, 2000). Relationships also provide opportunities for interpersonal touch, particularly physical affection.
Despite the importance of touch in human–human relations, research in affective tactile practices is in its infancy, lacking in-depth understanding needed to inform the design of remote digital touch communication. This article reports two qualitative studies that explore tactile affective communication in specific social contexts, and the bi-directional creation, sending and interpretation of digital touch messages using a purpose-built research tool, the Tactile Emoticon. The system comprises a pair of remotely connected mitts, which enable users in different locations to communicate through tactile messages, by orchestrating duration and level of three haptic sensations: vibration, pressure and temperature. Qualitative analysis shows the nuanced ways in which 68 participants configured these elements to make meaning from touch messages they sent and received. It points to the affect and emotion of touch, its sensoriality and ambiguity, the significance of context, social norms and expectations of touch participants. Findings suggest key design considerations for digital touch communication, where the emphasis shifts from generating ‘recognizable touches’ to tools that allow people to shape their touches and establish common understanding about their meaning.
Nostalgia is an emotion that confers psychological benefits. The literature has neglected romantic nostalgia—that is, nostalgia specifically for past experiences shared with one’s partner—and its potential advantages for relationships. We examined romantic nostalgia in one correlational study, two experiments, and one daily diary study (N = 638). Romantic nostalgia was positively associated with greater relationship commitment, satisfaction, and closeness (Study 1). Additionally, inducing romantic nostalgia via a writing task (Study 2) or music (Study 3) strengthened relational benefits. Finally, participants reported more positive relationship-specific experiences on days when they felt greater romantic nostalgia (Study 4). We discuss contributions to the nostalgia and relationships literatures.
This study sought to explore whether relationship satisfaction moderated the relationship between affection and individual health (i.e., depression and stress) and affection and relational well-being (i.e., trust and closeness). The sample (N = 631) was comprised of predominantly female non-married Southwestern college students. Relationship satisfaction did not interact with the relationship between affection and trust, affection and closeness, and affection and depression. However, relationship satisfaction moderated the relationship between affection and stress such that affection was significantly and negative related to stress only for highly satisfied relationships. Dissatisfied participants were affectionately deprived, and their frequency of affectionate behaviors varied. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Communication is an important component of many healthy sexual and romantic relationships. Positive communication strategies including expressing fondness and affection, exchanging compliments, and disclosing information about oneself with a partner are associated with relationship and sexual satisfaction, but less is known about its association to sexual desire. Most of the current literature has used traditional statistical analyses that assume errors are normally distributed and that associations between variables are linear. Our study aimed to examine the ways daily levels of four positive communication strategies are associated with relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and sexual desire among 246 mixed sex couples (N = 492). We also compared traditional hierarchical linear modeling with machine learning to compare results from the different data analytic techniques. Findings indicated that daily positive communication received from a partner was associated with all outcome variables of interest that day for both partners in the couple. All positive communication strategies predicted daily levels of desire, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction for the individual and each had unique associations with partner outcomes. Unique nonlinear interactions were found using machine learning. Findings have implications for practitioners and provide insight into the differences in findings between traditional analyses and machine learning.
The following hypotheses regarding interpersonal resource exchange among (a) dating couples ( n = 206 couples) and (b) engaged/married couples ( n = 103 couples) were tested: (1) levels of affectionate behavior are reciprocated (i.e. paths are bidirectional) among couples; (2) levels of respectful behavior are reciprocated among couples; (3) individuals' reported affectionate and respectful behaviors are correlated positively; (4) individuals' affection-giving traits are better as positive predictors of individuals' affectionate behavior among engaged/married couples than among dating couples; (5) individuals' respect-giving traits are better as positive predictors of individuals' respectful behavior among engaged/married couples than among dating couples; (6) individuals' gender-role compliance is better as a negative predictor of individuals' affectionate behavior among dating couples than among engaged/married couples; and (7) individuals' gender-role compliance is better as a negative predictor of individuals' respectful behavior among dating couples than among engaged/married couples. Individuals' interpersonal traits and gender-role compliance were self-reported, whereas individuals' interpersonal behaviors were reported by their partners. Results supported Hypotheses 1-3 (derived from resource exchange theory proposed by Foa & Foa, 1974) but not Hypotheses 4-7 (derived from the model of levels of relational involvement proposed by Levinger & Snoek, 1972). Unexpectedly, affection-giving traits generally were positive predictors of affectionate and respectful behavior, whereas respect-giving traits generally did not predict affectionate or respectful behavior. Implications for the study of interpersonal traits, gender roles and behavioral reciprocity in heterosexual relationships are discussed.
Presents a triangular theory of love, which deals both with the nature of love and with loves in different kinds of relationships. It is suggested that there are 3 components: (a) intimacy encompassing the feelings of closeness, connectedness, and bondedness experienced in loving relationships; (b) passion encompassing the drives that lead to romance, physical attraction, and sexual consummation; and (c) decision/commitment encompassing, in the short term, the decision that one loves another, and in the long term, the commitment to maintain that love. The amount of love one experiences depends on the absolute strength of the 3 components, and the kind of love one experiences depends on their strengths relative to each other. The components interact with each other and with the actions that they produce and that produce them so as to form a number of different kinds of loving experiences. The triangular theory of love subsumes other theories and can account for a number of empirical findings in the research literature, as well as for a number of experiences with which many are familiar firsthand. It is proposed that the triangular theory provides a comprehensive basis for understanding many aspects of the love that underlies close relationships. (53 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
This research focused on the meaning of psychological intimacy to partners in heterosexual and same-gender relationships that have lasted for an average of 30 years. In-depth interviews were used to explore the meaning of intimacy to 216 partners in 108 relationships. The participants were whites, blacks, and Mexican-Americans, with Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant religious backgrounds; they were employed in both blue- and white collar occupations.
Psychological intimacy was defined as the sense that one could be open and honest in talking with a partner about personal thoughts and feelings not usually expressed in other relationships. Factors that had a significant role in shaping the quality of psychological intimacy in the last 5 to 10 years of these relationships (recent years) were the absence of major conflict, a confrontive conflict management style between partners, a sense of fairness about the relationship, and the expression of physical affection between partners. Women in same-gender relationships, compared to their heterosexual and gay counterparts, were more likely to report that psychologically intimate communication characterized their relationships. The findings are important for understanding factors that contribute to psychological intimacy in long-term relationships and how the gender roles of partners may shape the quality of psychological intimacy in heterosexual and same-gender relationships.
This article presents a construct validation of a love scale based upon a triangular theory of love. The article opens with a review of some of the major theories of love, and with a discussion of some of the major issues in love research. Next it briefly reviews selected elements of the triangular theory of love, according to which love can be understood as comprising three components—intimacy, passion, and decision/ commitment. Then the article presents two studies constituting the construct validation of the love scale. The construct validation comprises aspects of internal validation—determination of whether the internal structure of the data is consistent with the theory—and external validation—determination of whether the scale based on the theory shows sensible patterns of correlations with external measures. The data are generally, but not completely supportive of the utility of the triangular love scale.
The purpose of this homework activity is to introduce the importance of extensive touching, hugging, holding, huddling, and cuddling (3HC) in intimate (committed, close, and prolonged) relationships. It seems that 3HC are so important in showing and sharing affection that they should receive more attention than they have received heretofore from the couple and family therapy community.
Are friends as good as lovers? Attachment, physical affection, and effects on cardiovascular arousal in young women's closest relationships (Doctoral dissertation, 2000)
- L M Diamond
Diamond, L. M. (2000). Are friends as good as lovers? Attachment, physical affection, and effects on cardiovascular arousal in young women's closest relationships (Doctoral dissertation, 2000). Dissertation Abstracts International, Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 2000 Mar., 60(8-B), 4272.
Hugging, holding, huddling and cuddling (3HC): A task prescrip-tion in couple and family therapy
- L Abate
L'Abate, L. (2001). Hugging, holding, huddling and cuddling (3HC): A task prescrip-tion in couple and family therapy. Journal of Clinical Activities, Assignments & Handouts in Psychotherapy Practice, 1(1), 5–18.
Trust, behavioral expectations, and interpersonal influence in romantic relationships (Doctoral dissertation
- J G Noel
Noel, J. G. (1996). Trust, behavioral expectations, and interpersonal influence in romantic relationships (Doctoral dissertation, 1996). Dissertation Absracts Inter-national, Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 1996 Sep., 57(3-B), 2221.
Communication expectations, feeling understood, and rela-tionship development (Doctoral dissertation, 1999) Dissertation Abstracts In-ternational, Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences
- L M Flaherty
Flaherty, L. M. (1999). Communication expectations, feeling understood, and rela-tionship development (Doctoral dissertation, 1999). Dissertation Abstracts In-ternational, Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences, 1999 Jul., 60(1-A), 0020.
Behavioral indicators of intimacy, passion, and commitment in young versus mature romantic relationships: A test of the Triagular Theory of Love (Doctoral dissertation, 1996)
- R Lemieux
Ethnic differences in the expression of affection, and other emotions (Doctoral dissertation, 1997)
- J L Lum
Communication expectations, feeling understood, and relationship development (Doctoral dissertation, 1999)
- L M Flaherty