When people are situations which provoke negative emotions, what happens when they hold someone’s hand?
The HealthEmotions Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin is conducting a study on the effect of holding a significant other’s hand when exposed to stimuli that provoke negative emotions. Preliminary results show profound differences in certain biological measures when hand-holding occurred. The more cohesion the couple reported in their relationship, the greater the magnitude of change in biological responsiveness. This study affirms the age-old wisdom that being in the presence of a significant other often helps in coping with adverse events (Davidson, ongoing research).
