Review of researches of touch as a communication channel in Infancy

ABSTRACT

The study of touch as a communication channel remains one of the least researched areas in the infant interaction literature. In the present article, the communicative functions that the tactile modality serves as it relates to how adults touch infants, are discussed. Two fundamental questions are addressed. First, what is communicated to infants by touch from their caregivers. Second, how does meaning come about from the touch that adults administer to infant? In discussing the fact that touch is capable of communicating valenced and discrete emotions as well as specific information, this question is addressed by discussing the physical dimensions of touch and three mechanisms by which meaning from touch comes about. Based on the reviews, the model of caregiver-infant tactile communication proposed by Herenstein(2002) is discussed. The model as a heuristic, may help us conceptualize the domain of tactile communication. Finally. The future directions for research of the touch are discussed.