"Seventy-five volunteers experienced either deep or light pressure from a weighted blanket while they were also exposed to warm or neutral temperature packs while they looked at pictures of people who were close to them. The result? Especially deep, warm pressure evoked a feeling of social connection with the person the volunteers looked at. Light touch or neutral deep touch was not as effective in evoking social connection."
"It is probably not a good idea to hug much longer than 10 seconds with most people, as many people find very long hugs awkward at some point. The duration of the hug also depends a bit on the relationship between the two people who hug. A recent study I was part of found that friends, on average, hug for about 3 seconds, while lovers hug about 7 seconds ( Ocklenburg and co-workers, 2025)."
Many factors influence how much people like a hug. Deep, warm pressure during hugging increases feelings of social connection, while light touch or neutral pressure is less effective. Hugs lasting between about 5 and 10 seconds are rated as most pleasurable; very long hugs often feel awkward. Typical hug duration varies by relationship: friends average around three seconds, while romantic partners average around seven seconds. Appropriate pressure and duration should be adjusted to comfort and relationship closeness to maximize connection without overstepping boundaries.
Read at Psychology Today
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