To hug or not to hug, that’s the question right now. We’re in a precarious place in the world of greetings etiquette. Depending on where you live, many of us are vaccinated. But it’s hard to know for sure before you embrace whether or not the person you’re leaning into has gotten the jab. At the same time, many of us are yearning for the warmth of a hug after a long year of social isolation. Humans, according to experts, biologically need touch and a good long hug is one of the best ways to get it.
Suzanne Degges-White is a professor and researcher focused on social relationships at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, IL. She says that our need for a hug goes all the way back to the survival of our species. When we’re born we can’t care for ourselves and we need to be comfortable being held in order to survive. We’re rewarded with a rush of feel good hormones that come from a cozy embrace.
