Physical touch is often associated with feelings of comfort, security, and warmth. It can also create emotional bonds that transcend language barriers, cultural differences, and even time itself.
The effects of physical contact go beyond these basic reactions. Touch can actually help bridge the gap between two individuals who are feeling disconnected from one another. This essay will explore how physical closeness can heal existential distances between people, drawing upon research from psychology, philosophy, and literature to illustrate its impact.
Touch has been shown to reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure, and increase feelings of well-being (Kirsch et al., 2018). When two people share an experience together, such as a hug or kiss, they release oxytocin, which promotes trust and connection (Burgess & Gazzola, 2015). Physical intimacy can also boost self-esteem and confidence, leading to greater openness and communication in relationships (van der Kolk et al., 2014). In addition to these tangible benefits, touch may have more subtle but no less powerful effects.
Existentialist philosophers like Sartre and Heidegger believed that humans are fundamentally isolated beings struggling against their own mortality. They argued that our sense of identity is constantly shifting and unstable, making it difficult for us to truly connect with others.
Through physical intimacy, we can overcome this existential angst by experiencing ourselves and the world around us in new ways (Gadamer, 1975).
In literature, writers have explored the role of touch in overcoming isolation.
In Gabriel García Márquez's novel Love in the Time of Cholera, the protagonist Florentino Ariza spends decades yearning after his lost love Fermina Daza. Despite their age difference and social status, they eventually reunite and consummate their relationship, allowing them to transcend their past lives and find renewed purpose. Similarly, in Anaïs Nin's erotic diaries, she describes how her sexual encounters provide a way to explore herself and the world beyond traditional boundaries (Nin, 1936).
Physical closeness offers a potent means of healing the existential distance between two people. Whether through chemical reactions or psychological processes, it has the potential to deepen connections and foster mutual understanding. By embracing physical intimacy as an essential aspect of human interaction, we can cultivate meaningful relationships that transcend time and space.
Can physical closeness heal the existential distance between two people?
Physical closeness can help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness that may exist between two individuals, but it cannot necessarily heal the deeper existential distance that exists between them. This is because existential distance refers to the gap between what an individual perceives as their personal meaning and purpose in life, which goes beyond physical closeness alone.