Why we hug: Individual differences predict emotional touch memories

Hugging is a ubiquitous form of social touch, yet little is known about how individual differences shape the remembrance of such experiences. In a large-scale survey (N = 15,049), we investigated whether various traits predict the likelihood of recalling a hug for its positive emotional impact and the reasons why it was remembered. Participants were recruited through promotion on public broadcasting programs (BBC) and other media. Overall, 69.5% of participants reported recalling a hug for its positive emotional impact. In regression analyses, empathy, body perception, and attachment-related anxiety were associated with a higher likelihood of such recall, whereas attachment-related avoidance was associated with a lower likelihood. Men were more likely than women to report physically arousing hugs as the most memorable. These findings suggest that hugs are predominantly remembered because they convey comfort, support, and understanding, and that individual differences shape autobiographical memories of hugging.