Adults Quote by Deane Juhan
“Soothing touch, whether it be applied to a ruffled cat, a crying infant, or a frightened child, has a universally recognized power to ameliorate the signs of distress. How can it be that we overlook its usefulness on the jangled adult as well? What is it that leads us to assume that the stressed child merely needs “comforting,” while the stressed adult needs “medicine”?”
About This Quote
Physical soothing reduces stress signals across ages, yet adults are often steered toward pharmacological solutions, ignoring simple tactile comfort.
In simple terms: Touch eases distress for all ages.
Key Takeaway
Adults can benefit from simple comforting touch.
Themes
stress relief
human connection
cultural expectations
embodied cognition
Mood
empathetic
reflective
concerned
Type
observational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- caring for a crying infant
- calming a frightened child
- supporting a stressed adult
- providing comfort in a hospital setting
Key Concepts
physiological calming
social bonding
caregiving dynamics
Practical Applications
- use gentle touch in therapy
- incorporate hand-holding in counseling
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we default to medication for adult stress?
- How might societies reframe touch as a legitimate adult coping tool?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that adult stress requires more complex interventions than touch alone can provide.
![“Giving those animals [in shelter] quality time - now, I have been in some of the shelters where the cats have been in group housing. Well if you have a cat that never gets out of sternal recumbency, now what that means is that [inaudible] - that's a stressed cat. If they lay on their side, then…” quote by Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e1b/temple-grandin-1219_animal_giving-those-animals-in-shelter-quality_1521840.jpg)
![“He [an earnest young reporter] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be art, the object of children's books is to whip the little rascals into shape.” quote by Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cf/katherine-paterson-2365_adults_he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-s_6101.jpg)
