She stated that she could not obtain the 'right' amount of pressure from people because they either gave her too much deep pressure or too little. As a teenager, Temple observed cattle being branded in a squeeze chute at a relative's farm and noticed that they immediately calmed down after pressure was administered to them in the chute. Temple still uses her 'Hug Box' on a regular basis to provide her the necessary deep pressure to cope with her anxiety. By using a lever, the user engages an air cylinder, which pushes the side-boards together. This action provides the deep pressure stimulation evenly across the lateral parts of the body.
Some individuals prefer long squeezes while others prefer rather short squeezes.
At the present time, several programs around the country have utilized Temple's 'Hug Boxes' and have observed similar changes in children and adults with autism, particularly a general calming effect. The Center for the Study of Autism, in collaboration with Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, conducted a controlled-placebo study in the summer of 1995, involving 10 children with autism. The researchers, Stephen Edelson, David Kerr, and Meredyth Goldberg Edelson, found a reduction in tension and anxiety based on the Conner's Parent Rating Scales checklist. In addition, the child with the highest anxiety level, according to the Galvanic Skin Response, a physiological measure, indicated a general reduction in anxiety over time. Dr. Margaret Creedon at the Easter Seals Therapeutic Day School has also conducted research on the efficacy of Temple's 'Hug Box' and has found results consistent with these findings.