"Brief forms of social touch can also increase friendly and prosocial behaviors. Simply including brief social contact to a request—such as a touch on the arm—can increase our willingness to take part in surveys, to give money to charity, and even to look after a stranger’s dog for 10 minutes while they pop into a shop!

"One classic study in the 1970s found that people were more likely to give back a coin left in a phone booth if the previous caller touched them when they left the booth than if they did not. Nearly three decades later, a 2007 study in France found that people were more likely to give away a cigarette if the request was accompanied by a touch.

"These findings show us how rudimentary touches that we encounter in everyday social interactions can provide a starting point for cooperation and compliance. A brief persuasive touch can exert a strong impact, even between people who are otherwise strangers." - Michael Banissy

Book Excerpt: Tips, Clicks, and Charitable Gifts: The Persuasive Impact of a Single Touch

Related Article: The Brain Reacts Differently to Touch Depending on Context.