Whether you're watching a movie, walking down the street, or simply hanging out, there's nothing more innate than the act of grabbing bae's hand when it's by you. But why do we do this, and is there more to the action than comfort? Indeed, there is. The reason why we hold hands can be traced back to biological, psychological, and cultural reasons. You may not realize it, but the simple act of taking your SO's hand is actually pretty complicated. Here are 7 reasons why people hold hands, whether they realize it or not.
It Reduces Stress.
You're watching a scary movie, and a monster pops out: What do you do? If you're with your SO, you probably grab their hand in an attempt to seek comfort. Of course, if the monster was real, grabbing bae's hand wouldn't save you, but that doesn't make the act trivial. Holding hands has been proven to actually reduce stress and help the brain respond to threats.
In a study conducted by Clinical Psychologist Dr. James Coan, it was found that when a person holds hands with their significant other during a stressful situation, they felt less threatened and their brain reacted accordingly.
"This was very interesting to me," Dr. Coan later said in his Ted Talk on the subject. "In particular, because we’ve known already for decades that the more socially isolated you are the more likely you are to die of anything at anytime no matter where you live or what culture you inhabit….But now we’re starting to see the actual mechanism in play, in real time. Simple hand holding."
It May Press on a Pressure Point.
According the acupuncturists, one of the useful pressure points on your body can be found on your hand, located on the webbed area between your thumb and forefinger. It's called hegu, and it can help in reducing pain associated with things like headaches, sinus infections, toothaches, and swelling.
Needles aren't even necessary to activate this point, simple acupressure will do. This means that it's possible that holding one's hand, which inadvertently applies pressure to hegu, may be enough to activate the point and relieve pain.
Hand are extremely sensitive.
Have you ever walked by a rack of clothes in a store and attempted to resist the urge to stroke every last one of them. Yes, the colors are pretty and nice to admire, but there's just something so satisfying about running your hands over the smooth silk and soft velvet. Well, this desire makes sense from a biological standpoint. Your hands have several sensory nerve endings and receptors. These nerve endings allow humans to succeed in the operation of technology and every day tasks. They allow us to wield a tool or swing a baseball bat, but they also make our hands extremely sensitive, more likely to enjoy, say, the grip of someone else's hand.
Touch is a form of communication.
Nonverbal communication is nothing new — you probably grew up hearing the phrase, "actions speak louder than words" — but the idea that one can communicate with touch, is something psychologist have just begun to explore in the last decade, and it turns out it can be a just as effective form of communication.
In a study conducted by psychcologist Matthew Hertenstein, he found that we are able to send emotional signals through touch quite accurately. In the experiment, participants communicated different emotions through touch, with the other participant accurately receiving the message 75% of the time. So, if you are ever are having a tough time communicating something with your partner, maybe grab their hand, and they will be able to sense what's going on.
We are innately programmed to hold hands.
Have you ever touched a baby's tiny hands and witnessed their little fingers open up and grab onto your finger? It's the cutest thing, and it's a reaction we're innately born with.
Studies have shown that just 25 weeks after conception, fetuses can be seen grasping at the umbilical cord inside the womb. This instinct is called the "grasping reflex." This reflex fades around the age of 6 to 12 months, but a human's desire for touch remains necessary throughout their lives.
It Keeps You Warm.
One of the best ways to preserve heat? Skin to skin contact. So, if you both forgot your gloves on a brisk walk, or the heat isn't working at home and you're already wearing three sweatshirts, grab each other's hands and enjoy the benefits of biology.
It's a Statement.
Imagine this: you're walking down the hallway at school, minding your own business when you turn the corner, and BAM, Lucy and Matt are walking toward you, holding hands. So, you pull out your phone and quickly text everyone you know about this new information, that Lucy and Matt are dating, because why else would they hold hands in the hallway?
It's true, holding hands can make a big statement. It tells the world that you're together, or tells your partner that you're ready to tell the world you're together. There are so many television episodes when a new couple fights because one of them doesn't want to hold hands in public. Are you embarrassed we are together? The other may ask.
So, when you do hold hands, when you do make that statement, it can be a big deal, and it can mean a lot for a relationship.
Carolyn Twersky is the Editorial Fellow at Seventeen.com. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram!
Carolyn Twersky is an associate editor for Seventeen covering celebrities, entertainment, politics, trends, and health. On her off time, she's probably watching Ru Paul's Drag Race, traversing NYC for the best donuts, or, most likely, enjoying time in her favorite place in the world: her bed.
