Project 2: Formulating Interspaces
Gesture: Patting (Appreciation)
The Origin of the gesture:
The pat on the back is a lost art. Most people aren’t freaked out by a hand on the shoulder and they’ll likely be appreciative of your sign of affection and respect.
After babyhood, children often experience patting that is no longer restricted to the back. Head pats, cheek pats, and even stomach or butt pats become common as an evolved form of “I’m here for you, you’re safe”, to become “All is well”. “All is well” soon evolves into “Well done you! You’ve done well!”, and this is the origin of the congratulatory pat, and back pat.
In children, it is customary to pat a child’s head when they’ve done something clever, as if you are congratulating them on their good brain. But because head patting is associated with childhood, it is seen to be patronizing to do to adults. Back-patting is the more accepted way of saying that a person has a good brain, or for saying well done on performing well, be it in a sporting event or some other event.
The Feeling of being patted for appreciation:
We all like being appreciated, right? But have you ever wondered why? What is it about being appreciated that affects us so much? The feeling of being patted for appreciation is a positive feeling bringing confidence in the person being appreciated. Being appreciated nourishes us. We feel good when a person recognises qualities that we appreciate about ourselves. It feels good to be seen.
Being appreciated goes along with being liked. There’s something about liking and being liked that warms our heart and brings a smile to our face.
It is a way to feel that we’re important to others; we make a difference in their lives. We are valued — or even cherished. It is validating and meaningful to hear that what we’ve done something good or that who we are is appreciated.
Feeling appreciated strengthens the bond between people.
