What your HUGS reveal about you, according to science

'Hugging is one of the most common types of affective touch encountered in everyday life,' they said. Interestingly, criss–cross hugs were the most common type of embrace, they discovered, while height difference did not significantly influence hugging style. A hug really does make you feel better after an argument, according to a 2018 study. Holding hands also improves a person's mood after a conflict, and the effect lasts into the next day, the authors at Carnegie Mellon University found. Studying 400 people, the team found those who shared a hug with the person they'd fought with were less likely to harbor negative feelings in the hours and days after. This adds weight to other studies showing affectionate human touch has a calming effect on the nerves, they said.