Embrace

A hug, sometimes in association with a kiss , is a form of non-verbal communication . Depending on culture, connections and relationships , a hug can mean acquaintance, love , affection, friendship , brotherhood or sympathy ^[1] , as well as support, comfort and empathy, especially where words are not enough. A hug usually shows love and warmth, sometimes arising from the joy or happiness of a reunion or meeting after a long separation. A non-reciprocal hug may indicate a relationship problem. The length of hugs is determined socially and culturally.

Unlike some other types of physical contact, a hug can be made publicly and privately without stigma in many countries, religions and cultures, in families, as well as by age and gender, ^[2] but, as a rule, a hug is an indicator that people are familiar with each other.

Unexpected hugs can be regarded as a human invasion of personal space , but their reciprocity is an indication that this is welcome. Some Western cultural researchers advise avoiding hugs at work to prevent unpleasant moments, especially with people who do not like to hug ^[3] .

The child can also hug dolls or soft toys . Young children hug their parents when they feel threatened by a stranger, although this may not be seen as a hug because such behavior demonstrates the need for protection, not love.

Less often, a hug acts as part of the initiation ritual in various social groups. In some cultures, such as France , Spain and Latin America , for male friends, hugging and slapping on the back is a joyful greeting ^[4] . Such a hug, usually accompanied by a kiss on the cheek, is the usual behavior for Western women to meet and part. In Portugal and Brazil , the phrase Hug is a polite form of ending a letter in male correspondence. In the Roman Catholic rite of the holy mass, a hug can replace a kiss or a handshake in reconciliation.

In May 2009, the New York Times reported that “hugging has become the favorite social greeting of today's teens in the United States. ” ^[5] Embrace bans have been issued in a number of schools in the United States, which in some cases have resulted in student protests against these bans ^{[6] [7]} .

A Canadian journalistic study in 2015 noted the popularity of male friendship hugs among young French-speaking adults in Quebec ^[8] .

During Ramadan, hugging a loved one without sexual urges during daylight hours - halal , a hug with sexual overtones are considered haram ^[9] .

The health benefits of hugs have been proven. One study showed that embraces increase oxytocin and lower blood pressure ^[10] .

Group hugging is a useful tool in group therapy to reinforce the participants ’sense of solidarity after the session, ^[11] although this can cause discomfort for group members who are shy of physical contact.

• Free Hugs
• Tactile communication
• Kiss
  
• Romantic friendship

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