Touch not only conveys meaning but has a variety of positive and negative
messages that can be used to either sooth or to elicit distress. Developmental
studies (Tronick, 1995; Weinberg, 1992) investigating the frequency
of specific touching behaviors between mothers and their infants showed that
the most frequent tactile behaviors were positive, including stroking, touching,
and tapping compared to rhythmic movements, holding, and tickling.