The Ultimate Body Language Book

There are two types of hugs and each one indicates a different level of intimacy. The first is called the
“full body hug” and is reserved for sexual partners. This type of hug is characterized by full chest to
chest and hip to hip contact. Since the bodies are so tightly pressed together, the genitals might also
touch incidentally. The second type of huge is the “light social hug”, the main hug for acquaintances
and friends, and happens when the shoulders come together as the torso hunches forward, but the hips
remain apart.
Hugs have a secondary hidden meaning as well. The longer the hug, the more intimate and affectionate
is the relationship. A pat at the end of the hug indicates that one party would like to “submit” from the
hug and terminate it. This gesture is similar to the actions wrestlers to do “tap out.” Taps also show
feigned or meaningless hugs, or even unwelcome hugs, especially if the tap happens early. Most people
think tapping while hugging shows comfort, but sexually romantic partners and close family members
do not pat, they embrace deeply and squeeze tight.
The hips, during a hug, also have a very significant hidden meaning. That meaning is conveyed directly
through the distance to which they remain separated and that distance tells us a lot about the type of
relationship two people have. Hugs that happen between family and friends will have at least six inches
between the pelvic regions of each person, whereas hugs from lovers have no, or very little space
between the hips. The torsos of lovers also move tightly into each other’s intimate zones enveloping
each other. The degree to which hips remain separate, or rear-ends are extended outward, whichever
you prefer, and the amount of contact that takes place in the upper chest, tells us what degree of
intimacy is present between huggers. Light hugs as we saw, can include only light shoulder contact,
and in extreme light hugging, the bodies might not press together at all. The arms and hands might
form a closed loop from shoulder to shoulder “around” them, but the chest and shoulders might only
seem to move slightly closer, or seem to bob in quickly before moving out, not coming any closer than
a foot. The hidden language of hugs can tell us a lot about the relationships around us, even potentially
juicy ones like those brewing amongst staff members. A careful eye at the next social affair might
uncover some cheeky relationships!
Chapter 11 - Emotional Body Language
Additional Emotional Body Language
A whole host of other body language is associated with emotion and fear such as a pale face, dry
mouth, damp eyes, avoiding eye contact, trembling, speech errors, voice tremors, varying speech tone,
increases in sweating, tension and jerky movements, gasping or holding breath, red face or neck,
widening of the eyes or raised eyebrows, grimacing and trying to change the topic. Be aware too, of
smiles that are dishonest or faked or stress filled as these can be a dead giveaway which was covered in
an earlier chapter. These smiles will be quickly flashed across the face or permanently held under
extreme anxiety where only the lips are stretched across the face.