In the book, "Strategic Sport Communication" (Paul Mark Pedersen, Kimberly S. Miloch & Pamela C. Laucella, p. 106), haptics was applied to sports. The work of Hargie & Dickson (2004), and Wood (2004) was used when it is stated that "in sports there are handshakes and embraces". These occur when meeting at mid-court, or on the 50 yard line for the coin toss. After a game, the coaches, and players usually leave the field after shaking the hands of their opponent. Sometimes, after a game, the players will even hug their opponent, or slap them on the shoulder, or back.
Instead of the fist bump, or "high five" of the past, a common way to celebrate a good play, or score, in sports is the chest bump. In the following video, a pro basketball player celebrates a score by chest bumping his teammates.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I58pU73AAww&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLE88DB8B028C63B58
Another example of haptics in sports
A handshake is an example of haptics nonverbal communication. According to a study by students at the University of Alabama, (http://research.ua.edu/2001/08/study-suggests-firm-handshakes-and-good-impressions-really-do-go-hand-in-hand/), participants were rated in eight areas: grip, temperature, dryness, strength, duration, vigor, texture of skin, and eye contact.
According to Professor Chaplin at the University of Alabama, having a firm handshake is very important in making a good first impression. In addition, a woman with a firm handshake is evaluated as just as positive as a man. The study also showed that a woman with a firm handshake was deemed to be more open than a woman with a weak handshake. Those with firm handshakes are considered to be extroverted, and emotionally expressive.
Therefore, if you want to give a good first impression, have a firm handshake!
My son has Asperger's Syndrome, which is in the Autism spectrum. Therefore, I was curious to see what role haptics has with that syndrome.
On the asperger, org website, it is stated that one of the signs of autism/asperger's, is a sensitivity to touch (aspergersyndrome.org). In addition, on the autism-help.org website, it is stated that one of the characteristics of Asperger's is "Avoidance or over reaction to touch".
There was a study at the University of North Carolina (Tactile Perception in Adults with Autism: a Multidimensional Psychophysical Study,Carissa Cascio, Francis McGlone, Stephen Folger, Vinay Tannan, Grace Baranek, Kevin A. Pelphrey, and Gregory Essick,Carissa Cascio, Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) that reported that some individuals with autism were unable to tolerate a pat on the back, or a well-meaning hug. As a result of their study, it was found that those with autism are highly sensitive to touch on the forearm, and to heat.
Despite this study, and what is stated on both the autism-help, and aspergersyndrome websites, I can say that my son doesn't exhibit the same kind of tactile sensitivity. He has always liked to be hugged, and even as an adult, will still hold your hand.
I lost my mother in June of 2011. My Dad, brothers, and I were with her when she passed. As we were spending our last hours with her, we would hold her hand, stroke her head, and place our hands on her arms. Before she lost consciousness, her pastor came to see her. He placed his hand on her, and spoke to her. The hospice nurse told us after he left that after she "shut it down". He brought spiritual comfort, but his touch brought her some physical comfort.
When she was in her last hours, she wasn't conscious, but our studies have told us that touch is the last thing we lose as we are dying. That thought gives me a lot of comfort. I know it made me feel better to touch her in her last hours. I miss that touch. She would hold me in her lap when I was young, and comfort me with hugs when I got too big, and old, to hold. She wasn't very demonstrative, but she brought such comfort to me, and my brothers, when we needed it the most. My mom, and dad, would kiss each other when they said hello, and before my Dad would leave for work.
I hope, as she was leaving this earth, she could feel us touch her one more time. When we said our final goodbye at her funeral, I touched her one more time. I knew she couldn't feel that touch, but that simple gesture brought me great comfort.
Haptics is the study of touch in non-verbal communication. It can occur between friends, lovers, in professional settings, and across different cultures. A handshake is an example. What are others? What kind of messages do they send? When looking at the picture below, what are your thoughts?
*Cite: onlineacademics.org
