There are some words these days that seem to have negative connotations attached to them despite being rather neutral in manner. Take ‘consequences’, for example. Many might look at this word and automatically assume something bad. Another example in in this category is ‘touch’.
If you hear about a person touching someone, your mind races to the many recent negative news stories on the topic, not least those related to the #MeToo movement. As a teacher, you immediately think of safeguarding concerns.
However, reading Touch Matters by Michael Bannisy, I was struck by the vast array of research that shows how effective touch can be in influencing behaviour and I believe it can be harnessed for good in the classroom.
In 1984, research in an American restaurant showed that when waiting staff touched a hand or shoulder when presenting the bill, they received higher tips than when no touch occurred. This has been followed by various studies in a variety of different places across the world that show a brief touch can influence how honest a person will be, how long they will stay in shops, how much alcohol they will drink and whether they will look after your dog.
