Humans were built as relational people by a relational God.
Every human is looking for safety, security, connection and importance. In Genesis, in the garden, God gave Adam and Eve those things in a perfect state. This connection is built into us and drives our human nature.
“Physical touch spurs a lot of brain growth, a lot of connections in our brains, and so it helps us to grow cognitively, which is kind of a foundation for other kinds of growth and development, even emotional things,” Laura Gerig, the department chair and associate professor of psychology, said.
Often, humans find security in material things and success in the workplace or the athletic field, grasping for fallen relationships.
People have always wanted control.
Stuffed animals serve as a positive and healthy interaction and development for children.
“They're kinesthetic, they're tangible, but they're always there and they're always the same,” Vance Maloney, professor of psychology, said.
There is a socio-emotional growth that happens through owning a comfort item. It allows a child to remember they are safe and loved and practice that with a stuffed animal they could provide care for.
They also give the opportunity for a reversal of roles.
“Sometimes the stuffed animal plays that role as a comfort item that makes them feel safe. But then sometimes, they play that role for the stuffed animal,” Katheryn Kelley, an assistant professor of psychology, said. “They get to practice what they've seen modeled by their parents – care and love towards a stuffed animal.”
The phenomenon is also linked to animism, where children anthropomorphize inanimate objects.
Children tend to give life-like characteristics to inanimate objects, acting like the teddy bear has feelings. Gerig said beings are physical, cognitive, emotional and spiritual, which makes us whole people.
God relates to his people as the ultimate example for one who comforts and provides safety for his children. We see in the Gospels when Jesus calms the storm and asks his disciples why they were afraid (Mark 4:35-41). Jesus is also seen weeping over Jerusalem, longing to gather them under his feathers like a hen with chicks (Luke 19:41-44).
There is an evident creature-comfort connection.
“God sends us out to love others, and one of the early ways you practice that is you take care of your stuffed animals, and you love your stuffed animals,” Kelley said.
The biggest example of God’s physical connection is when Jesus became flesh. Connection with Jesus was possible because of his sacrifice in physical form. Our human nature gravitates towards the need for physical security and connection, which Jesus fulfilled.
Physical touch is essential to human development. Even in the first stages of life, infants need physical contact. Studies were conducted on infants in orphanages where they are not treated well.
“They were fed, and they were changed as they needed, but they were never held. They were never given that physical touch. They were never given face-to-face contact, and many of those babies ended up dying from what they just called failure to thrive,” Gerig said.
When college comes, it is a new crib with new people, circumstances and challenges that push us to find something familiar. Stuffed animals can play the role that connects us to home. This is something that serves as a reminder of past safety, love and security.
“It reminds you of that tie to your childhood, so that you're not completely starting over from scratch,” Kelley said. “...this is kind of home, a place where I was safe and loved and reminds me that this is my new home, and I'll be safe and loved here too.”
