Friends know that I tend to do the occasional shoulder rub when greeting a person. I'm not sure where I picked it up but i just kind of do it. I'm sure it's creepy to some, so sorry for that :) but it's kind of a subliminal way of saying hi. Well guess what? Researchers at UC Berkeley have uncovered there is a method to my subliminal madness. Check it out.
"The evidence that such messages can lead to clear, almost immediate changes in how people think and behave is accumulating fast. Students who received a supportive touch on the back or arm from a teacher were nearly twice as likely to volunteer in class as those who did not, studies have found. A sympathetic touch from a doctor leaves people with the impression that the visit lasted twice as long, compared with estimates from people who were untouched. Research by Tiffany Field of the Touch Research Institute in Miami has found that a massage from a loved one can not only ease pain but also soothe depression and strengthen a relationship."