touch therapy

treatment that involves touching or manipulating parts of an individual’s body to ease physical pain or to promote relaxation and a general sense of well-being. Touch therapy has been shown to have numerous benefits for children (among others), such as improving the physical and psychological development of preterm infants and bringing about a greater tolerance of touch by children with autism, which has resulted in enhanced bonding and communication with their parents. Also called therapeutic touch. See also complementary and alternative medicine; massage.

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Psychology term of the day

October 15th 2024

sorting test

a format for assessing the ability to conceptualize, often used in adult neuropsychological assessments or in determining a child’s level of cognitive development. The participant is asked to arrange an assortment of common objects by category. A common example is the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.