On Tue, 22 Aug 2000, I received this message on one of my listservs:

Tiffany Field recently published two articles (one with preschoolers, one with adolescents) showing an inverse correlation between physical affection and physical aggressiveness among peers. Those were cross-cultural studies, but individual and family differences in physical affection likely account for some variance in violence -- in addition to (perhaps even interacting with) the variables suggested by Joanie (e.g., Sheline et al., Am J Public Health, 1994). If some parents utilizing corporal punishment also are less physically affectionate, the latter may serve as a "third variable" that enhances the impact of punitiveness on children's aggressiveness. Studies with a range of methods and species suggest that in appropriate social contexts, touch inhibits aggressiveness.

Positive effects of physical affection on many processes other than violence -- ranging from immune function to anxiety to physical development to blood glucose regulation -- have been demonstrated experimentally and quasi-experimentally, many in diverse species.

Time, perhaps, to revive the old bumper sticker "Have You Hugged Your Child Today?" -- and to reconsider policies and practices that reduce prosocial touch (e.g., school policies that prohibit teachers' touching students) -- in a manner, of course, that protects against abuse while conferring the psychological, social and physical benefits of touch esp. to children and re: violence.

I don't mean to imply that conflict resolution and violence prevention -- esp. at extremes of despotism and genocide -- is as simple as increasing touch. It isn't so in other species, much less people; e.g., cultural construals of and display rules for touch must be considered. But attention to touch (and not only its surrogates, derivatives, proxies, or symbols) might be useful, in research and intervention. For an interesting, brand new look at this perspective, consider Aureli &

DeWaal's (eds.), "Natural Conflict Resolution" (U California Press, August 2000). A blurb from a review:

"Chimpanzees kiss and embrace after a fight. Children will appeal to fairness when fighting over a toy. Spotted hyenas, usually thought to be a particularly aggressive species, use reconciliation to restore damaged relationships. As these studies show, there are sound evolutionary reasons for these peacekeeping tendencies. This book also addresses the cultural, ecological, cognitive, emotional, and moral perspectives of conflict resolution."

-- Nancy

-----Original Message-----
From: jconnors [SMTP:jconnors@mail.uark.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2000 1:39 PM
To: ippn@egroups.com
Subject: [ippn] RE: reponse to Antonio > The article on violence prevention strategies of inner-city students did > leave > me wanting to know a great deal more about how those remarkable students > could > have developed such tolerance and wisdom. I hope the authors plan to > research > their backgrounds more and follow the students in the future. >

> We know that violent attitudes among youth are primarily correlated with > violence within their families although with heavy influence from peer > violence > and media violence. Youth violence has also been correlated with using > "traditional" discipline (spanking or other physical punishment) which > would > go > along with your idea about hierarchical power relationships. >

As you point out, it would also be important to know how nonviolent attitudes are formed and what influences from family and society help in their cases. The ideas you suggested are worth studying further. I hope you find some support to look further in this.

Thanks for your interest in the IPPN,

Joanie Connors, Ph.D.
Visiting Asst. Professor
University of Arkansas

Visit the International Peace Practitioners' Network Webpage

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