A recent study on the language of touch in human interactions suggests that touch can express emotion more fully and more quickly than other forms of non-verbal communication.
It is important to note with this the universality of some non-verbal cues. An obvious example is punching someone in the face. This generally indicates anger. Generally. Certain facial expressions, such as smiling, are biologically programmed to correlate to emotions, not learned from our environment.
Over time, numerous studies have been run on the science of positive touch and performance in humans. It's been shown to make students volunteer more in their classes, to improve performance in the NBA, and prevent diarrhea.
Okay, I made that last one up. But I really wish I hadn't.
But the most interesting point is what a caring touch does chemically inside of our bodies. Something like a high five raises levels of oxytocin and lowers levels of cortisol. Oxytocin brings trust, while cortisol brings stress.
So are you feeling stressed? Go out and get yourself a high five.
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