Doug Keith

State College

Modern society faces a crisis of disconnection. Loneliness, mistrust and polarization fuel anger, anxiety and violence. Yet one of the simplest ways to rebuild connection and calm conflict has always been with us — the healing power of human touch.

Neuroscientist James Prescott showed that pleasure and violence circuits in the brain act like a switch: when one is active, the other is suppressed.

Healthy touch such as hugging activates oxytocin — the “bonding hormone” — which fosters trust, lowers stress and reduces aggression. This is not sentimentality; it is biology’s antidote to fear and hostility.

Longer hugs, especially around 20 seconds, significantly boost oxytocin, lower blood pressure and reduce depression. Children who receive affectionate touch grow up less aggressive; adults who hug more often show better stress resilience and stronger relationships.

A “20-Second Hug Club” could revive empathy in our homes and communities. By normalizing longer, consensual hugs — among families, friends and trusted groups — we retrain our collective nervous system toward calm and care. Organized, transparent settings ensure safety and mutual respect.

The goal is simple but transformative: to make caring connection an everyday norm. There should be no “other” — only we. Supporting this movement means investing in a future that is less violent, more cooperative and healthier — emotionally, physically and spiritually. Let’s start small but think big: share the science, model the warmth,and discover what 20 seconds of genuine connection can do.