Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


Thesis Paper Final.pdf (1.32 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Embodied Relationships: Does the Act of Hugging Influence an Individual's Feelings toward His or Her Romantic Partner, Family, or Friends?

Mosley, Amanda Kay
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ashland1400707490

Abstract Details

2014, Bachelor of Science, Ashland University, Psychology.
Embodied cognition is a theory indicating that thoughts, feelings, actions, and behaviors are grounded in physical experiences. Embodiment suggests that what individuals experience physically translates into a related mental representation of that experience which influences how they react to the world around them (Landau, Keefer, & Meier, 2010). Particularly, recent research in embodiment has attempted to examine the intrapersonal association between physical and cognitive experiences. Much research has examined this phenomenon with regards to judgments or perceptions of acquaintances and strangers, but has not heavily focused on close interpersonal relationships with others. The current research aimed to activate the schema for closeness and assigned individuals to engage in a variety of postures, some ended in a "hug" position and others ended on a neutral position. Then, participants were asked a variety of questions about their feelings of closeness in their intimate relationships. I hypothesized that those ending with a hug posture would rate greater feelings of closeness to others than those who ended on a neutral posture. However, results suggested that the manipulated posture had no significant effects on closeness ratings. It is possible that previous postures primed a logical flow of thought toward shapes which may have interfered with the intended priming effect of the "hug."
Brent Mattingly, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Diane Bonfiglio, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
47 p.
Psychology
Embodied cognition; relationships; closeness

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Mosley, A. K. (2014). Embodied Relationships: Does the Act of Hugging Influence an Individual's Feelings toward His or Her Romantic Partner, Family, or Friends? [Undergraduate thesis, Ashland University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ashland1400707490

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mosley, Amanda. Embodied Relationships: Does the Act of Hugging Influence an Individual's Feelings toward His or Her Romantic Partner, Family, or Friends? 2014. Ashland University, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ashland1400707490.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mosley, Amanda. "Embodied Relationships: Does the Act of Hugging Influence an Individual's Feelings toward His or Her Romantic Partner, Family, or Friends?" Undergraduate thesis, Ashland University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ashland1400707490

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ashland1400707490
779
© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ashland University Honors Theses and OhioLINK.