contact comfort
Stimulation and reassurance derived from the physical touch of a caregiver
Contact comfort refers to the positive psychological feeling that infants and animals derive from physical intimacy with their caregivers or conspecifics. This term was coined by psychologist Harry Harlow in the 1950s, who conducted a series of controversial experiments on infant monkeys to investigate the nature of attachment.
Harlow observed that monkeys would spend more time with a cloth surrogate mother, which provided soft and tactile stimulation, than a wire surrogate mother, which provided food. This showed that the monkeys had a strong desire for social and emotional comfort, rather than just food.
Similarly, human infants also have a strong need for physical closeness and affection with their caregivers. This is typically fulfilled through activities such as holding, rocking, and skin-to-skin contact, which promote feelings of safety, security, and warmth.
Contact comfort is believed to play a critical role in the development of attachment, which is a lasting emotional bond between an infant and their primary caregiver. Studies have shown that infants who receive more physical affection and touch from their parents tend to have better social, emotional, and cognitive outcomes in later life.
Overall, contact comfort is an essential aspect of human and animal development, as it fosters feelings of trust, security, and connection with others.
More Answers:
Understanding Cross-Sectional Studies: Analyzing Prevalence and Distribution in Population HealthMaximizing Insights: Utilizing Cross-sectional Design for Effective Social Science Research
The Importance of Critical Periods in Development: Insights from Psychology, Biology, and Education