What is Knismesis?
In 1897, two psychologists, Granville Stanley Hall and Arthur Allin, came up with the terms knismesis and gargalesis to refer to the two forms of tickling. Hall is an important figure in American psychology; he helped to found the American Psychological Association, and also started the first journal of psychology in America. Arthur Allin was a well known personality in psychology as well, especially in the Western states, where he trained many talented psychologists during his years at the University of Boulder. Knismesis is light tickling, such as that which might be accomplished with a feather, gentle touch, insect, or mild electrical current. Heavy tickling to sensitive areas of the body such as the knees, feet, and ribs is referred to as gargalesis. While the terms are not widely used, they can make an interesting topic of conversation. Most people associate knismesis with a sense of calm, and it is sometimes used to lull animals into a trance, because the gentle touch seems to se
