When we touch – cuddle, hug, or holding hands – our bodies release “feel good” hormones. These hormones include oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. Once the hormones are released into our bodies we experience feelings of happiness, relaxation, improve mood, and lower levels of depression.
“Sometimes called the “cuddle hormone” or “feel-good hormone,” oxytocin is produced by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland when we're physically affectionate, producing what some describe as warm fuzzies – feelings of connection, bonding, and trust,” said Paula S.
Hugging for Longer Periods of Time is Better for the Body
When people hug for 20 seconds or more, the feel-good hormone oxytocin is released which creates a stronger bond and connection between the huggers. Oxytocin has been shown to boost the immune system and reduce stress.
Generally, the lower the hands, the higher the physical attraction. If their arms encircle your waist and they press their hands against your lower back, that might be a romantic hug—especially if they draw your lower body in closer to theirs.
Hugging causes the brain to release oxytocin, the hormone that increases human bonding. Here's why it's so important. The oxytocin released by hugging increases trust, loyalty and feelings of closeness, which is why physical contact in relationships is so important.
Albers said there is a biological reaction to a hug. "There is a release of oxytocin. That is that feel-good chemical that when it's released, we feel bonded to those around us. There's also a decrease in cortisol, the stress hormone that pumps through our bodies when we feel stressed or overwhelmed," Albers said.
As author and family therapist Virginia Satir once said, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth”.
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.
And most likely we don't think much but just enjoy the feeling of being loved and given a chance to love them. Men think about how lucky they are to have the woman they are hugging, in their life. I love hugs!
Make quick, casual contact.
Lean in, bending from your waist. The idea here is not full-body contact, which is a much more intimate and personal hug. Wrap one arm around her arm and place your hand in-between her shoulder blades. Wrap your other arm around her and place your hand below your first hand.
Place one arm under her armpit, in the lower half of her ribcage. Put your other hand on the general area of her shoulder blade. As the hug deepens, you can hold her waist or wrap both arms around the small of her back. Alternately, hug her from behind.
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.
Cuddling also provides happiness due to the release of the hormone oxytocin. When the girl cuddles up, there is a release of a chemical called oxytocin in the brain. The release of oxytocin makes you feel good because it is the love hormone.
He might not touch back, but if he does, you've definitely got the green light. Men who are attracted to you might even engage in more touch. If a man actively tries to touch you during your interaction, it may mean he wants to get closer to you or close the distance between you two.
Flirty Hug
If you are at the onset of a relationship, this is the perfect way to express yourself without being bold. However, in an existing relationship, a flirty hug (which involves a little delicate touching) is a great way to keep the romance alive. If you do this often, you two are on the right track.
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.
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.
This can have two meanings: either she is interested in you romantically or simply sees you as a friend. She may be a cool buddy and have her arms around your waist, mostly because she feels comfortable with you.
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).