From Self-Hugging to Group Hugging: Forms of Hugging

Hugs are a complex, multidimensional behavior that can be characterized by a whole range of aspects. These include the number of people hugging, the duration of the hug, the movements of individual body parts, the strength of the squeeze, the side of the hug, the emotional significance of the situation, as well as the relationships, personalities, cultural backgrounds, and traumas of the people involved.