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Hug

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This article is about affection. For people named Hug, see Hug (surname).
"Cuddle" redirects here. For the Stikky EP, see Cuddle (EP). For the racehorse, see Cuddle (horse).
Elisabeth Louise Vigée-Lebrun, Madame Vigée-Lebrun et sa fille, by Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, 1789
Glassy embrace
A hug can be a sign of joy or happiness
Young men hugging.

A hug is a near universal form of physical intimacy, in which two people put their arms around the neck, back, or waist of one another and hold each other closely. If more than two persons are involved, this is referred to as a group hug. A hug, sometimes in association with a kiss, is a form of nonverbal communication. Depending on culture, context and relationship, a hug can indicate familiarity, love, affection, friendship or sympathy.[1] A hug can be given as an indication of support, comfort, and consolation, particularly where words are insufficient. A hug is usually a demonstration of affection and emotional warmth, sometimes arising out of joy or happiness at meeting someone or seeing someone that they have not seen in a long time. A non-reciprocal hug may demonstrate a problem in the relationship. A hug can range from a brief one-second squeeze, with the arms not fully around the partner, to an extended holding. The length of a hug in any situation is socially and culturally determined. In the case of lovers, but not others, the hips may also be pressed together.

Unlike some other forms of physical intimacy, a hug can be practiced publicly and privately without stigma in many countries, religions and cultures, within families, and also across age and gender lines, [citation needed] but is generally an indication that people are familiar with each other. Moving from a handshake (or touch-free) relationship to a hug relationship is a sign of a new friendship.

An unexpected hug can be regarded as an invasion of a person's personal space, but if it is reciprocated it is an indication that it is welcome. Also, a person, especially a child, may caress and hug a doll or stuffed animal. Young children will also hug their parents when they feel threatened by an unfamiliar person, although this may be regarded as clinging onto rather than hugging, since it demonstrates a need for protection rather than affection.

While less common, hugs may be undertaken as part of a ritual or social act in certain social groups. It is a custom in Latin cultures such as France, Spain and Latin America for male friends to hug (as well as slap each other on the back) in a joyous greeting. A similar hug, usually accompanied by a kiss on the cheek, is also becoming a custom among Western women at meeting or parting. In May 2009, The New York Times reported that "the hug has become the favorite social greeting when teenagers meet or part these days" in the United States.[2] A number of schools in the United States have issued bans on hugs, which in some cases have resulted in student-led protests against these bans.[3][4] In the Roman Catholic rite of the Holy Mass a hug may be substituted for a kiss or handshake during the kiss of peace ritual. Some cultures[citation needed] do not embrace hugging as a sign of affection or love, such as the Himba in Namibia.

Hugging has been proven to have health benefits. One study has shown that hugs increase levels of oxytocin, and reduce blood pressure.[5]

Hugging in non-humans

Patricia McConnell notes that dogs tend to enjoy being hugged less than humans and other primates do, since canines interpret putting a limb over another animal as a sign of dominance.[6]

Hugging is not particular to human beings, as there are many species of animals that engage in similar exchanges of warmth.[citation needed]

Cuddling reduces 5 cardon footsteps per minutes thus saving the world, one cuddle at a time.

Cuddling

Cuddling is a related form of physical intimacy in which two people hold one another with each person's arms wrapped around the other's body. Similar to hugging, cuddling is a more affectionate and intimate embrace, normally done for a longer period of time. In contrast to hugging, which can often be a nonverbal greeting or parting tradition, cuddling is usually shared between two people who are lying down together or sitting somewhere in an intimate manner. Like hugging, cuddling makes the body release oxytocin. This has a variety of effects.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hugging.

References

  1. ^ Kathleen Keating (1994). The Hug Therapy Book. Hazelden PES. ISBN 1-56838-094-1.
  2. ^ Kershaw, Sarah (2009-05-27). "For Teenagers, Hello Means 'How About a Hug?'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-29. [dead link]
  3. ^ Grant, Denise (2010-04-15). "Students pan hugging ban".
  4. ^ "School Bans Hugs Over 2 Seconds". 2008-03-02.
  5. ^ "How hugs can aid women's hearts". BBC News. August 8, 2005. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  6. ^ Patricia McConnell (June 4, 2002), The Other End of the Leash (1st ed.), Ballantine Books, ISBN 978-0-345-44679-4
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