Overview

• Researchers recorded 60 friend and romantic pairs with 14 high‑frequency cameras and analyzed embraces using three‑dimensional markerless motion capture.
• Average hug duration differed by relationship type, with romantic partners at 7.02 seconds versus 2.88 seconds for friends.
• Measured distances between feet, knees, and pelvis showed no significant differences between couples and friends.
• Higher neuroticism was linked to looser hugs, while higher conscientiousness was linked to tighter hugs.
• The lead author offered informal duration cues—under three seconds as likely platonic and seven seconds or more as potentially romantic—framed as suggestive rather than validated.