In a society where digital connections are accepted as the norm, "Skinship," written and directed by London-based filmmaker Nichola Wong, implores us to ask a disconcerting question: are we losing touch with our sense of touch, with human skin-to-skin contact?
"'Skinship' was conceived on an idyllic beach in San Sebastian, where I found myself captivated by a group of 20-something Europeans,
whose obsession with their devices rendered them oblivious to the beauty that surrounded them and also one another," Wong told me via email. "I thought it was a shame, but I thought 'who was I to judge?' I'd done the very same on many occasions. It was something that got me thinking about my own relationship with technology, and I had observed at that time in my life that I was feeling very disconnected from myself with the increasing prevalence of technology in my day-to-day life."
From an evolutionary perspective, the physical and emotional need for touch is vital. "In recent years, a wave of studies has documented some incredible emotional and physical health benefits that come from touch," according to Daniel Keltner, the founding director of the Greater Good Science Center and professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley in a 2015
Psychology Today article. Strong team dynamics,
decline in disease and greater nonsexual emotional intimacy are just a few of the reasons cited.
"This research is suggesting that touch is truly fundamental to human communication, bonding and health."In previous pieces, I've addressed the paradox of technological advancement. Technology's progression has certainly seen numerous benefits. Innovative platforms for communication have been established, allowing us to communicate in various ways and with more immediacy. However, I've also written about the flip side of our digital world. "Skinship" encourages us to take a closer peek at these darker connotations.
Comment: Ms. Schütte's conclusions are astonishing, given the growing amount of research now available on this intra-species predator. Interesting that the "study" is published by a business management journal. One might think it was a propaganda piece on behalf of psychopathy. Dr. Robert Hare and Paul Babiak wrote an entire book on psychopaths in business world, and came to the conclusion that they were nothing but destructive to the companies taken in by them.