How Witnessing PDA Might Be Healthy
It may be incredibly obnoxious to watch two people get their shmoop on in public, but researchers just discovered that witnessing PDA could be good for you.
By Zoë Ruderman
Scientists in Sweden did an experiment in which subjects experienced "sensual caresses" then witnessed other people experiencing "sensual caresses". They then observed the subjects' brain responses and learned that people react strongly and positively in both scenarios. And-get this-the psychological high you get from seeing, say, a guy rub his girlfriend's back is just as intense as the one you get from actually having your boyfriend rub your back.
Related: How To Be A Good Girlfriend
We're not sure if we totally buy it, but we're intrigued. And we may not be as quick to look away next time we see two people making out in our line of sight.
Related: 3 Ways To Keep Your Relationship Healthy
The researchers, whose study was published in the Journal of Neuroscience, also discovered that when it comes to the type of touch that has the most positive effect, slow strokes beat fast strokes. (Reminder: We're still talking about caresses, as in rubbing someone's back or arm, not other types of activities that involve, you know, strokes.) So if you're trying to boost your guy's mood-or have him boost yours-now you know to go for slow caresses, not fast ones.
Does it bother you when a couple engages in PDA? What do you think constitutes acceptable PDA? And what crosses the line?
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