Interpersonal Synchronization: The Power Of A Hug

A hug is a fascinating dance of interconnection. It is a bond between lovers, skin to skin, heart to  heart. It is interpersonal synchronization. Friends show their understanding and children look for closeness and security in a hug.

Imagine a child sleeping on her mother’s breast or a baby dreaming on her father’s shoulder… it’s a way for her to connect with the people who are her roots.

Dance therapists believe that  there are few things that say more about you than the way you hug. There are short clamps and long clamps. These are embarrassing hugs, where you do not know where to put your hands or cheeks.

Hugs evoke so many emotions. Whether your body is relaxed or tense and your spine is stiff or curved. Every movement and gesture says something about you.

Look at a hug and you will learn a lot about those involved. We get an idea of ​​their insecurity, closeness and passion.

Whether you’re an expert on the art of hugging, or you avoid them like Sherlock Holmes in Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, this fact will interest you.

A study published in the  Neuroscience News magazine showed the power of a hug. The study demonstrated that a simple hug from a loved one can make pain feel easier. 

Dr. Simone Shamay-Tsoory and Professor Irit Weissman-Fogel, the authors of this study,  call this “interpersonal synchronization.” 

It’s a name you should remember. You will hear a lot about this over the next few years.

A hug synchronizes you with those you love

Sometimes we forget that the  skin is the largest organ in the body. It is a fascinating and complex tissue. The skin is made up of three layers of cells called the epidermis (epidermis), dermis (dermis) and hypodermis (subcutaneous tissue).

These layers are a protective barrier and are renewed every month. Every second, they send out thousands of bits of information to your  brain .

Therefore, we can say that a hug is a real union of the  senses  between two people. And this common social and emotional action has a deeper meaning than you would have thought.

When you squeeze, you gather information and provide information. I hug you and you hug me to show affection, security, fidelity, love and friendship. Not only that, but as the University of Haifa in Israel showed, squeezing triggers  interpersonal synchronization. 

To better understand this concept, you need to adjust your gaze to a strong microscope. You have to forget everything you know about communication. Because  a hug is so much more than non-verbal language: it is an act of pairing and synchronization. 

A group of scientists studied 22 couples over the age of 32. Their study showed that  through a squeeze, the respiratory rhythms and heart rhythms synchronized. Not only that, but the brain waves of both parties also synchronized.

When you hug someone, you match their frequency. You enter a calm state where emotions regulate biology. Physiological synchronization has the ability to reduce physical  pain, suffering, stress, fear, fatigue, etc.…

I want to take care of you, you take care of me: interpersonal synchronization

Interpersonal synchronization does not only exist in romantic relationships. When a  baby  is born, his brain is still very immature. Nine months inside the mother’s womb is not enough to handle and relate to the world around her.

Here is when another type of biological link occurs. This fascinating phenomenon is called thermal synchronization. When a baby is cold, the temperature of the mother’s breast will increase by up to two degrees. If the baby is hot, the opposite will happen.

Technically, direct contact with the mother’s skin creates shelter, where biological needs are synchronized. This place calms  fear, provides warmth and helps with the child’s brain development.

To conclude, know that physical contact contributes to our survival in a significant way. Whether it is by touching someone or a hug, this contact is important for our health and happiness.

Interpersonal synchronization teaches us that physical proximity puts us on the same wavelength. We are connected on a physical, emotional and even energetic level.

And that is where real, fascinating and often forgotten power can be unfolded. The power of love and affection versus suffering, cold, stress, anxiety, mistrust and even pain.