Relationships July 11, 2017
It doesn't just feel good.
Photo via Instagram / @mistertopfloorThroughout your life, you hold hands with many different people. You start by grasping your mother’s finger, and then you eventually hold the love of your life.
But did you know holding hands also has medical benefits? And on top of that, it can say a lot about your level of intimacy with another person.
If you didn’t know this, then no worries. ENTITY is here to explain the significance and importance of holding hands.
Holding hands isn’t just a sweet sentiment you do with your first boyfriend in middle school. There is some actual scientific reasoning behind the importance of spending some extra time “at bat” before rushing into “first base.”
If you’ve ever been around a newborn baby, you’ll realize that the innocent little person will often use their small hand to latch onto your finger.
In science, this is called the grasp reflex.
Experts say it’s most likely a response that was once necessary for our ancestors. Back in the primitive days, babies most likely used this mechanism to stay close to their mothers, which would’ve helped them avoid life-threatening dangers.
And what’s even more interesting is that the history of the grasp reflex can date back even further, to our common lineage with primates.
Some scientists think the grasp reflex supports the idea that, as humans, we are closely related to Chimpanzees and Bonobo monkeys. When it comes to holding hands, these animals are observed performing the same behavior.
Sensory stimulation is something that is necessary to maintain life.
While it may seem odd that holding hands can actually improve your physical well-being, it’s very true. Several studies show that children who grow up institutionalized suffer physically and mentally from a lack of being touched.
For example, The Bucharest project at the turn of the century analyzed 136 Romanian orphans, ranging from six months to three-years-old. Their intent was to understand how a child develops without being rocked to sleep or lovingly held.
Their findings were alarming.
Due to neglect, these children could not perform well when it came to cognitive ability, motor development and language. And they also struggled with their emotions. Many of the orphans developed mental disorders.
In addition, other social studies revealed that holding hands or something as simple as a pat on the back can reinforce encouragement and support and decrease stress. Basically, we need human contact to thrive.
Holding hands not only decreases the stress hormone, cortisol, it also increases the love hormone, oxytocin.
First, holding hands decreases cortisol by making the other person feel content and connected. It sends signals to the person’s brain that there is less danger in a perceived threat. This is especially true when you are holding the hand of a loved one or romantic partner. When cortisol levels are high, the skin is more sensitive. And because the hands and fingers contain the most nerve endings in the body, holding hands can really help make you feel more at ease.
Second, holding hands increases oxytocin. This is the hormone responsible for producing empathic responses and prompting better communication. That’s why it’s deemed the “love hormone.” Holding hands not only develops a bond between romantic partners, it also helps them feel more confident, loved and happier.
And the best part of all? Holding hands is also literally good for your heart. Oxytocin reduces blood pressure, which is linked to heart disease.
When it comes to interpreting what different types of hand holding mean, things can get tricky. But to help you, here are the most common explanations to help you determine what it means when someone reaches for your hand.
This is the sure-fire way of knowing your relationship is romantic. Hand holding with interlocked fingers screams intimacy and it just feels right with that special person.
On the flip side, holding hands without interlocking your fingers usually means this is a friends-only relationship. This hand hold feels safe and you still feel connected. It just doesn’t have that same level of romance or intimacy as the interlocked hand hold does.
Okay so you’re not actually holding the other person’s hand, but it’s close enough. It’s the I’ve had a bit too much wine or beer and am now going to trace the veins on your hand.
But somehow, even without the liquor, there’s something sensual about a light touch of the finger.
Did he mean to touch your hand or didn’t he? The world may never know. But this close encounter is enough to give anyone that tingly butterfly feeling in their stomach.
Some people think the more dominant person in the relationship will have their hand on top or on the outside of the other person’s. But it doesn’t always have to be about dominance. It can also be more comfortable to hold hands this way if the top hand belongs to the person who is significantly taller.
Regardless of how you hold it though, that connection is good for you. Now go out there and hold someone’s hand to increase the quality of your life. But maybe avoid the awkward brush-of-the-hand method.
