How do you show you affection? How do you decide?

Question

Some people are very formal, and will rarely do more than shake hands.

Others will hug near perfect strangers.

In France it is typical to kiss on either cheek as a greeting and as a goodbye.

Do you have a hierarchy of hugs/cuddles/handshakes/waves? Does it completely depend on the person you want to demonstrate affection towards?

Are you comfortable with how people demonstrate their affection towards you?

For you - are there significant differences in the way *you think* affection should be shown between the genders (example you may prefer men handshake with men, women hug men and women, men do not hug men)

How do you show you affection? How do you decide?

Answer 1

I'm a hugging person. My family always hugs! However, I restrain myself when it comes down to friends. I understand that they aren't as open about their personal space & how they were broght up. I also like "ful" hugs. The ones where you truly embrace, not the slouching shoulder, quick ones.

Btw...hugging lowers blood pressure.

Answer 2

Cuddles I reserve for a significant other. Hugs are the usual for anyone who is a friend or family member that you haven't seen in awhile. Handshakes are for first meetings. Waves are a good greeting if you can't say Hello, for anyone and I'd do that when I am some distance away from the person, not when I'm right in front of him. I do touch: tap the hand or shoulder and often hold someone's hand while greeting them. I do that in place of a handshake.
I will take a hug if it is offered from anyone that I know. I have kissed women friends on the cheek or lips. That is kind of mutual. The handshake with men is different from the handshake with women. It is shorter and more focused than with women. You shake and break with men, because that is what they want. You could be done with the shake and still be touching with women. I think that all this is affection and you, most of the time, intuit the proper response.
C. :)!!

Answer 3

I'll hug anyone if I feel it is appropriate - but I wouldn't if I suspected that the other person wouldn't be comfortable with it. I don't really believe that there should be significant differences in how we show affection between the genders as a whole - but then, I'm half Sicillian (on my paternal side), so a kiss on the cheek between men doesn't exactly shock me. I usually decide what to do based on how I think they'll react, and how affectionate I'm feeling at the time. At various times, I've been known to hug guys, and shake hands with women - it all depends on the circumstances of the time, and the individuals involved.

Answer 4

handshake for strangers; hugs for women with mutual respect and caring; son's Chinese in-laws - mother get hug and peck on check - father gets handshake only. Sometimes when meeting another female for the first time and there appears to be a 'kinship,' will give a hug. If female is having a rough day - will give a hug. As for men - it totally depends on the relationship - typically nothing more than a handshake unless a relative or friend (relatives get a hug and a peck on the cheek; friends get a hug).

Answer 5

I greet with a hand job...

For my real answer, my affection is shown by what I do for them not how I greet them. Picking up a stranded buddy at mid night means a lot more than a hug for a greeting.

Greeting people I usually say "yo" and say what needs to be said.

Answer 6

Showing affection is an extension of how you feel about someone and expression of yourself. The only thing that is taboo is showing affection in a way your friend can't accept or makes them feel uncomfortable. You need to judge the way your affections as presented are accepted from your friends and then adjust accordingly. Most often affection is simply a way of showing you care about their well being. There are often cultural taboos that you need to be aware of, but for the most part it is important to express your affection from the heart, see what the reaction is, and then adjust accordingly.

Answer 7

I'm a girl, but my friends that I know some what good or maybe have met once or twice, but I will greet them with a hug, doesn't really matter if it is a guy or a girl.

Answer 8

i'm not one to really show affection towards people, actually...
if i flash a genuine smile, that's about as affectionate as i get with nearly anyone...
i will awkwardly hug family if they initiate it; if one of my best friends is crying (not often) i feel obligated to hug them.
i hate when people i'm not related to or know *very* well hugs me, or touches me...

my husband is the only one that i reallly show affection to, and even that is subdued compared to the way some people show affection to others...

Answer 9

oh, cook a can beefaroni, get out the best paper plates, and say: "hey, after dinner, ya wanna get stanky?"

hierarchy of hugs/cuddles/handshakes/waves??

say what?

Answer 10

I usually hug my friends (male and female) for hellos and goodbyes. For the friends who don't like hugs, i don't hug them.