A friend hug is a traditional, two-armed hug where both people's chests are touching. "Typically, we move our pelvises away from each other, not closer to each other," Mattenson notes. What it means: The distance between the two pelvises provides extra space so nothing is misconstrued to be sexual or romantic.
Friendly Hug. To tell when a hug is platonic, look for side hugs or an A-frame stance (with shoulders and upper chests touching but hips further apart), as well as brief embraces.
Hugging often creates a feeling of calmness and relaxation. That's because of oxytocin, which is sometimes called the "cuddle hormone." Oxytocin is released when people or pets snuggle up or bond socially. This release can have a domino effect throughout the body and has been found to: Reduce inflammation.
Psychologists in London claim they have cracked the code on the ideal embrace, saying hugs should last between five and 10 seconds. According to researchers at Goldsmiths university, longer hugs were found to provide an immediate pleasure boost compared to shorter ones (lasting just one second).
This is a simple-to-decode kind of hug. If she hugs you with one or both arms with that extra squeeze and lovely smile, you know she had fun and whatever it is she had with you, you can expect she'd want to do it again. It's not much of a passionate or romantic kind of hug, but at least it's a good sign.
So, before hugging anyone, kindly ask for their permission. Know if they really want you to touch them. Unwelcomed touch, even if friendly, always feels creepy. To that end, if she permits, not in a non-verbal subtle hinting sort of way but loud and clear, then, by all means, hug her.
This affectionate gesture signifies that your guy cares deeply about you. "The back is a very vulnerable part of the body," Wood says. "You can't see your back, so being touched there can be startling." Softly rubbing you on such an exposed zone shows that he wants to nurture and protect you.
Oxytocin has a remarkable effect on the brain, quieting background noise and allowing people to tune in to each other, boosting bonding and feelings of attraction between partners.
Pressing your chest into his is considered a "heart to heart" hug. If you're the same height as him, you might rest your head on his shoulder. If you're shorter, turn so that you rest your cheek on his chest. If you're taller, try to lower your head so he can see you better and feel like he is in reach to kiss you.
The flirty hug
According to the experts, this is how you give a flirty hug – “Wrap your arms around your partner's neck, lean your head on his chest, or hug her with one arm and draw her close.” A flirty hug may also entail stroking a person's arms, a tight back hug, or nuzzling their neck when leaning in.
Heart-to-heart hug
A heart-to-heart hug is when two people embrace each other from the left part of their bodies so that their hearts touch first. This type of hug means intimacy and can mean friendly or romantic intimacy, basis your relationship with the person.
A tight bear hug or a hug with back pats is usually friendly and platonic. If their arms are around your waist or they're hugging you from behind, the hug is romantic. A quick distant hug or a sideways hug is mostly just polite and impersonal.
Tight hugs can mean someone wants to show you affection, they see you in a familial light, they're looking for your support, or they want to take your relationship to the next level.
A friendly hug will often be light in touch. It avoids being too severe or tight. Most hugs involve pressing your bodies together, but when friendly, it is about the act of the hug, not the closeness.
You can put both arms around his neck and keep one palm gently on the nape of his neck. If your arms are around his neck, run your fingers softly through the hair at the base of his neck. If your arms are around his torso, rub his back gently. A behind-the-back hug can also be a good way to hug a guy hello.
If your upper bodies and chests touch, that's usually a friendly hug. If your chests and pelvises touch during the hug, though, there's probably some sexual attraction there! It's a little harder to tell if they give you a full-frontal hug and press their cheek to yours.
They want to protect you.
Whether they're a family member, friend, crush, or partner, your hugger might squeeze you extra tight to show you that they're there to keep you secure. Men tend to love the hug from behind because it triggers their hero instinct, or their desire to care for and be needed by their partner.
What it means: "A side hug means you're not fully in it," says intimacy expert Julian Colker. This hug is more common in acquaintances than friends since it's more approachable and appropriate for people who aren't very close.
The sorta subtle, but totally flirty hug 🤗
Sometimes the best way to flirt is to be subtle about it. Sure, winky faces and tongue emojis are great, but when you really want to test your skills as a flirter, use the hugging smiley face to get your point across.
They either put their arms around your neck so your attention is on them, or they hug you at the waist or lower to pull you in closer to them. What does a half hug mean? Half hugs are not intimate. They are shared between friends and acquaintances. Most introverted and socially awkward people give half or side hugs.
This hug is about passionate love and romance between two people, wherein the guy wraps his arms around the girl's waist while the girl wraps her arms around the guy's neck, evoking a sense of high school romance. So, if you and your partner hug this way, you allow your love life to live and grow.
06/7When a woman has her arm around your waist
This can have two meanings: either she is interested in you romantically or simply sees you as a friend.