Latest news with #MichaelThompson
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Touch starvation' is an epidemic among this age group — here's what parents should be doing about it, experts urge
Young boys are reportedly feeling deprived of physical touch and affection, also known as 'touch starvation' — which can have a major impact on their emotional and social well-being. 'The bottom line: touch keeps you alive. It's crucial,' Michael Thompson, PhD, a clinical psychologist specializing in children and families, told in an interview. Experts like Thompson stressed the importance of positive touch for healthy development — especially for young men who are often exposed to toxic masculinity at a young age. 'Boys are already being socialized, whether parents know it or not. It's happening everywhere around them from the moment boys are exposed to the world, but particularly when they are exposed to media,' Matt Englar-Carlson, a men's mental health researcher and Chair of the Department of Counseling at California State University Fullerton, also told the outlet in the same interview. Oftentimes, when young boys grow up without a healthy example of physical touch, it can come out in not-so-appropriate ways, like roughhousing with their peers. Adults will often view this sort of playful teasing amongst young men as 'boys will be boys' — but it actually indicates that something more serious might be going on. Iritability, anxiousness, social withdrawal or difficulty calming down are other tell-tale signs that a young male is suffering from touch starvation. A 2016 study pointed out that young boys who were exposed to healthy physical touch when growing up reportedly had lower levels of depression and healthier romantic relationships when they were older. Yet, according to a recent Gallup poll, American Gen Z and millennial men are reportedly the loneliest group — which proves that the majority of young boys are not being shown examples of positive physical touch when growing up. To combat this growing epidemic, Thompson and Englar-Carlson suggested to the outlet some helpful ways parents can reintroduce healthy physical touch into their sons' lives. One way is to use touch in a calming manner when a young boy is upset over something. They also suggested that parents talk to their son about the type of touch they prefer — whether it be a hug, putting their arm around them, or giving them a soothing rub on the back. The experts also said to discuss boundaries around physical touch with sons to learn what they feel comfortable with. And if a parent senses that their son is not ready for a school drop-off hug just yet, they suggested saying something along the lines of, 'I need to hug you. Is there a place I can do it where you'd feel comfortable?'
New York Post
12 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
Young boys are experiencing 'touch starvation'
Young boys are reportedly feeling deprived of physical touch and affection, also known as 'touch starvation' — which can have a major impact on their emotional and social well-being. 'The bottom line: touch keeps you alive. It's crucial,' Michael Thompson, PhD, a clinical psychologist specializing in children and families, told in an interview. Experts like Thompson stressed the importance of positive touch for healthy development — especially for young men who are often exposed to toxic masculinity at a young age. 'Boys are already being socialized, whether parents know it or not. It's happening everywhere around them from the moment boys are exposed to the world, but particularly when they are exposed to media,' Matt Englar-Carlson, a men's mental health researcher and Chair of the Department of Counseling at California State University Fullerton, also told the outlet in the same interview. More and more young boys are reportedly longing for physical touch — and experts have a few suggestions on how parents can help combat this growing epidemic. motortion – Oftentimes, when young boys grow up without a healthy example of physical touch, it can come out in not-so-appropriate ways, like roughhousing with their peers. Adults will often view this sort of playful teasing amongst young men as 'boys will be boys' — but it actually indicates that something more serious might be going on. Iritability, anxiousness, social withdrawal or difficulty calming down are other tell-tale signs that a young male is suffering from touch starvation. A 2016 study pointed out that young boys who were exposed to healthy physical touch when growing up reportedly had lower levels of depression and healthier romantic relationships when they were older. Yet, according to a recent Gallup poll, American Gen Z and millennial men are reportedly the loneliest group — which proves that the majority of young boys are not being shown examples of positive physical touch when growing up. To combat this growing epidemic, Thompson and Englar-Carlson suggested to the outlet some helpful ways parents can reintroduce healthy physical touch into their sons' lives. One way is to use touch in a calming manner when a young boy is upset over something. They also suggested that parents talk to their son about the type of touch they prefer — whether it be a hug, putting their arm around them, or giving them a soothing rub on the back. The experts also said to discuss boundaries around physical touch with sons to learn what they feel comfortable with. And if a parent senses that their son is not ready for a school drop-off hug just yet, they suggested saying something along the lines of, 'I need to hug you. Is there a place I can do it where you'd feel comfortable?'
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
MANDEL: 'I never sexually assaulted anyone,' insists Coun. Michael Thompson
Councillor Michael Thompson is pictured at Toronto City Hall on Jan. 23, 2019. Photo by Veronica Henri / Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network He's just not that kind of guy. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Under an intense and often humiliating cross-examination, Toronto Coun. Michael Thompson stood firm that he didn't sexually assault two female guests during a 2022 Canada Day cottage getaway and never even had sex on his mind. 'That's not the kind of weekend it was,' he insisted. At the longtime Scarborough councillor's judge-alone trial, Crown attorney Mareike Newhouse accused the politician of luring three women to the Muskoka cottage he'd borrowed from friend Calvin Barry and plying them with alcohol in hopes of getting lucky. The prosecutor suggested the women were all drunk by the Sunday afternoon when Thompson asked to apply sunscreen to one while the others weren't paying attention relaxing on the dock. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I'm going to suggest that when you did apply the sunscreen, you went under her bikini and massaged her buttocks as well as her breasts,' she charged. 'No, that did not happen,' he said firmly. Thompson also denied the women were intoxicated — despite their testimony — and as a former bouncer, he knows the signs. The councillor testified that he had consensual sex with the second woman but Newhouse accused him of forcing her to perform oral sex after the other two guests had gone to sleep. The separated father of two insisted the complainant actually came on to him, even waking him up in the middle of the night and whispering in his ear. He was 'fine' with her 'very forward' sexual advance but Thompson made it clear to the court that while he didn't know what to expect with their consensual sexual encounter, he was definitely going to draw the line at sexual intercourse since he'd just met her. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'That's not a thing for me. So I knew that was not going to happen.' Newhouse feigned confusion. 'For you, sexual intercourse is a special thing?' she asked. 'But you were absolutely fine having your penis in her mouth, though?' 'I didn't refuse,' he replied. The Crown s uggested that what happened was entirely different. 'You actually went looking for the women in the middle of the night,' she began. 'No,' Thompson said firmly. 'She came to see me in my room. I don't know where she came from. I saw her in my room fully naked.' 'She was drunk,' Newhouse continued. 'No, not that I could observe,' he said. 'I'm going to suggest you took her to the basement; I'm going to suggest she was having trouble actually walking on her own,' the prosecutor continued. 'I'm going to suggest you, sir, that by the time you got to your room, you were all over her physically, and she told you 'No.'' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'No,' Thompson disagreed. 'That was never said. Absolutely not.' The prosecutor then accused him of trying to force oral sex. 'She did that on her own,' he said, insisting it was all her idea. The accused and the Crown then squabbled in embarrassing detail over the exact mechanics of what transpired. 'I didn't place it anywhere,' Thompson maintained. After the weekend was over, Newhouse accused Thompson of ghosting the third — and youngest — female guest because he realized he couldn't get anywhere with the university student — which he denied — and repeatedly reaching out to the woman he took downstairs to see if she remembered anything. 'You knew she was drunk when the events happened. You were trying, I'm going to suggest to you, to act like everything was absolutely normal when you knew that it wasn't.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More He denied that as well. Thompson has testified that he was shocked to be contacted by the OPP in Bracebridge three months later about sexual assault charges and couldn't figure it out, at first, because he had no connection to the area. 'The connection was that you thought back to sexual assaults that you committed and those are the ones you committed that weekend,' Newhouse charged. Thompson scoffed. 'I did not commit any sexual assault that weekend or any other time.' The trial that began last fall, with disjointed dates due to availability, is finally nearing its conclusion — closing arguments are scheduled for June 23. mmandel@ RECOMMENDED VIDEO Crime Toronto Maple Leafs World Toronto & GTA Toronto Maple Leafs
CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Toronto Councillor Michael Thompson: ‘I never sexually assaulted anyone'
Longtime Toronto Councillor Michael Thompson maintained his innocence at his sex assault trial held in Barrie.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Crown grills Toronto councillor over alleged sexual assault at Muskoka cottage
Social Sharing WARNING: This article contains graphic descriptions of an alleged sexual assault. During cross-examination in his sexual assault trial Thursday, Toronto councillor Michael Thompson was grilled by a Crown attorney who suggested he'd forced himself on a woman in 2022, despite his previous testimony the encounter was consensual. The former deputy mayor is facing two charges of sexual assault for alleged incidents involving two women at a Muskoka cottage over the Canada Day weekend in 2022. Their identities are protected by a court-ordered publication ban. One woman has alleged Thompson touched her inappropriately while applying sunscreen, which Thompson denied in court earlier this month, while the second woman has alleged he forced himself on her in the middle of the night. Thompson has pleaded not guilty to both charges in the judge-alone trial, which continued in Barrie Thursday. Thompson first took to the witness box earlier this month, where he testified that a sexual encounter had happened with the second woman, but she had initiated it and it was consensual, a claim he maintained Thursday. WATCH | Coun. Thompson takes stand for first time to testify in trial: Toronto city councillor Michael Thompson takes the stand in his sexual assault trial 23 days ago Duration 2:30 He said the complainant had spent much of that day touching him and flirting with him, and at one point suggested they get together when the other two women at the cottage that weekend — the other complainant and a witness in the trial — went to bed. Thompson said Thursday he went to bed early, but was woken by the second complainant around 3 a.m. He alleged she was fully naked and asked him to have a drink in the kitchen. He said he followed her out and sipped tequila with her before following her down to a basement room where she performed oral sex on him. Crown suggests things went differently On Thursday Crown attorney Mareike Newhouse pushed back against Thompson's testimony, putting the prosecution's theory of events to him directly. "I'm going to suggest to you that what actually happened in the early hours of the morning is entirely different than what you've described," Newhouse said, suggesting he was already awake, not awoken by the complainant. "I'm going to suggest that you actually went looking for the women in the middle of the night," Newhouse said. "No," Thompson replied. "I'm going to suggest that the woman you found was [the second complainant]," she said. "No," he responded. "I'm going to suggest you took her to the basement." "No." "By the time you got to her room you were all over her physically and she told you no." "No, that was never said." "I'm going to suggest it was said multiple times by her to you." "Absolutely not, that was never done." Newhouse completed the Crown's cross-examination of Thompson Thursday. The trial is set to resume with Thompson's re-examination by his lawyer on June 23. Woman's previous testimony contradicts Thompson Newhouse's suggestions aligned with what the court had previously heard from the complainant. Earlier this year, the woman testified that Thompson allegedly forced himself on her after a day of heavy drinking. The complainant said that Thompson woke her up in the middle of the night and took her to a downstairs bedroom. Once there, she said, he was "definitely trying to engage in something sexual," while standing close to her and touching her. The complainant said she told Thompson, "I don't want this." She said she laid down on a bed, still feeling the effects of alcohol from earlier in the day, at which point Thompson put his penis around her face and mouth and later ejaculated on her face and chest. She told the courtroom repeatedly she had not wanted sexual contact with Thompson, but felt she couldn't do anything. "I felt trapped," she said at the time. Thompson said Thursday that the woman put his penis in her mouth herself, and she appeared sober. Both complainants, and a third woman who was at the cottage that weekend and is a witness in the trial, have previously testified Thompson plied them with alcohol over the weekend, and the second complainant was very drunk when Thompson allegedly forced himself on her. The witness's identity is also protected by a publication ban.
