A smack or a rough shake has always been our way of dealing with others, whether in emotional circumstances or otherwise. To those feeling socially rejected, such a move could trigger unwanted emotions and further deepen the void of emptiness. A gentle touch, an alien concept to many, however, could ease the effect of social rejection, a study published in the journal Scientific Reports said. It tested the impact of a slow, affectionate touch against a fast, neutral touch following social rejection and found a specific relationship between gentle touch and social bonding.

Researchers from University College London in the UK led 84 healthy women to believe that they were playing a computerised ball-tossing game with two other participants to measure their mental visualisation skills. After throwing and catching the ball several times, they answered a questionnaire that included questions about needs often threatened by ostracism including the feelings of belonging, self-esteem, meaningful existence and control. 

The participants thought they were playing games with other study participants when in fact the other players were computer-generated. When the participants resumed the game after a 10-minute break, the other players unexpectedly stop throwing balls at them after a couple of ball-tosses, causing them to feel socially excluded. The participants were then blindfolded and their left forearms were touched with a soft-bristled brush with either slow or fast speed.

They then completed the same questionnaire and the results were compared and controlled against a baseline. Researchers found that those touched at a slow speed had reduced feelings of the negativity and social exclusion induced by the game compared to those who received a fast, 'neutral' touch, even though general mood remained the same between touch conditions.

Neither type of touch was sufficient to totally eliminate the negative effects of being ostracised,  researchers said. "As our social world is becoming increasingly visual and digital, it is easy to forget the power of touch in human relations," said Mariana von Mohr from University College London in the UK.

"Yet we have shown for the first time that mere slow, gentle stroking by a stranger can reduce feelings of social exclusion after social rejection," said von Mohr.