When I have an awkward, invasive or painful medical or dental procedure done, the doctor/nurse/technician/dentist always tells me ahead of time what is going to happen. And without exception, they are apologetic about it.

"OK, I'm sorry, but this is going to be pretty uncomfortable. I'm going to bla-bla and you're going to feel bla-bla, but...."

I understand that some TSOs need the job and I understand that the frisks wer not a part of the job when most of them hired on. (I have noticed that it seems to be disproportionately female TSOs doing the frisks, because the male TSOs seem to be getting really good at avoiding patdowns - afraid of getting clocked or aversion to touching a guy, I don't know).

But is there something in the SOP that prevents a TSO from acting like a good, aware medical provider and making it clear, 'neither one of us is happy about this, but we've got to do it'? Maybe that, plus treating passengers like a family member (a respected one) would make it marginally more tolerable for everyone.