Do tourists experience suffering when they touch the wailing wall?

Abstract

Tactile engagement is a critical aspect of tourist experiences. Embodied cognition theory suggests a direct correlation between physical sensations and psychological perceptions. For example, touching the textured stones at the Wailing Wall, a revered religious site in Jerusalem, can evoke intense emotions in tourists. This study explores the impact of rough tactile sensations on dark experiences through six studies. We used content analysis, on-site surveys, eye movement experiments, and scenario experiments to validate these effects. Our findings emphasize the pivotal role of rough tactile sensations in shaping profound emotions and individual experiences while uncovering alternative routes for developing sensory strategies to enrich dark tourism experiences.