Photo: Luan Nunes

How can you tell if someone wants a hug?

The Hug. People who are natural huggers and/or who feel friendly toward you will often prefer to greet you with a hug instead of a handshake. When someone wants to hug, they will approach you with their arms open and their torso facing you in preparation for the embrace.

scienceofpeople.com - How to Know if Someone is Going to Give You a Handshake or a Hug

How does lack of affection affect a person?

Specifically, compared to people with less skin hunger, people who feel more affection-deprived: are less happy; more lonely; more likely to...

Last updated Feb 14, 2019

How does a woman keep a man interested?

Never Stop Flirting Usually, once the honeymoon phase of a relationship ends, a routine sets in. Avoid this and try to keep your relationship...

Last updated Jun 15, 2022

Promotion

You know that awkward moment where someone is coming to greet you with some kind of professional touch and you have no idea if they are going for the handshake or the hug? So you’re left kind of putting your hand out but also not sure if you should open your arms for the hug or you just wait for them to approach and do nothing at all? Then you fumble through your verbal greeting and are left struggling to take down your social anxiety so you can carry out your interaction with them. When writing my book Captivate, I sought to discover how to deal with social issues like this that plague our everyday lives. Here’s my solution for navigating greetings so you’re never left wondering how greet someone again. The key to doing greetings that set you up for great interactions is to be comfortable with the option you use. That way you get off to a smooth start that sets the tone for the rest of your time with the person you’re meeting. If you aren’t sure what type of greeting you should use, choose the one that you feel is most appropriate for the situation. In my book, Captivate, I explain how touch plays a role in different social environments. Armed with that information, you can strategically decide how to greet people based on the impression you want to make.

The Handshake

When someone wants to greet you with a hand, they will angle one shoulder toward you and put out a single arm once they get close. This is your cue to reciprocate by doing the same. Keep in mind that a handshake tells you more than you may realize. By getting the handshake right, you can show that you’re emotionally stable, agreeable and respect the person you’re meeting. Some people will put their palm out when meeting others, which shows that they are submissive. If you want to demonstrate that you’re equal to the person you’re meeting, do a vertical hand shaking motion. If you want to communicate that you’re confident, make sure your hands are dry. Sweaty palms are an indicator of nervousness. The level of firmness in your handshake is crucial; if you have a “dead fish” shake, it’s going to show that you’re weak, while a “death grip” will turn people off. Practice your handshake on a friend or family member to ensure that you’re hitting that firmness sweet spot.

↑ Table of Contents ↑

The Hug

What are silent gestures?

Silent gesture occurs when participants are tasked with describing something without speaking.

Last updated Aug 23, 2019

What does the Bible say about how a woman should treat her husband?

In Ephesians 5:33, Paul says, ” … let the wife see that she respects her husband.” When you respect your husband you notice him, regard him, honor...

Last updated Feb 26, 2019

Promotion

People who are natural huggers and/or who feel friendly toward you will often prefer to greet you with a hug instead of a handshake. When someone wants to hug, they will approach you with their arms open and their torso facing you in preparation for the embrace. To avoid awkward hugging, you need to be prepared to go all in. If you’re uncomfortable with it, you’ll end up giving the other person a half hug, one of those weird hugs where you embrace with your arms but your chests don’t touch, or some other variation that is worse than not reciprocating the hug at all.

↑ Table of Contents ↑

The Cheek Kiss

While not as common in North America, in many European and South American cultures people prefer to greet one another with kisses on both cheeks. This is one of the most intimate forms of greetings between acquaintances and, if you’re not familiar with it, it goes something like this: Someone will greet you face first, angle their head out toward you on the approach, put out one or both hands out so they can grasp your arms and embrace you when they go in for the cheek kiss. During the embrace there will often be a moment or two of close talking. Compared to a handshake especially, this type of greeting is powerful in personal relationships because it strengthens the bond between two people. Whenever two people touch oxytocin, the bonding hormone, is released so that both individuals feel closer to one another. The more places and the longer you touch, the greater the amount of oxytocin that is released which is why this type of greeting feels very intimate.

↑ Table of Contents ↑

What Do You Do if You Don’t Want to Touch?

Whether because of your cultural background or your personal preference, you may not feel comfortable touching people you aren’t close to and that’s perfectly okay. The key to controlling the type of contact you have with people is sending the right signals. If you prefer handshakes over hugs and cheek kisses, you can put one arm out toward people as you approach them. Or, if you would rather not make contact at all, raise your arm up and wave when someone approaches you. Soften the signal of not greeting them with the expected handshake or hug by warmly saying that you are excited to see them.

scienceofpeople.com - How to Know if Someone is Going to Give You a Handshake or a Hug

What does an intimate connection look like?

Intimacy in relationships It involves being open and talking through your thoughts and emotions, letting your guard down (being vulnerable), and...

Last updated Oct 29, 2019

What kind of trauma causes jealousy?

Trust Issues and Past Trauma – Some people are traumatized by their past relationships. Having someone who cheated on them makes it difficult to...

Last updated Mar 24, 2019

Promotion

How do you know your partner is falling out of love?

“Partners who are falling out of love often stop making plans for the future,” Manly says. “Whether it's having no interest in planning vacations,...

Last updated Apr 22, 2018

Promotion

Should a couple talk everyday?

While it's totally fine if you and your boo chat on a daily basis, experts say that — in a healthy relationship — you shouldn't feel obligated to...

Last updated Jun 21, 2022