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Swedes Love Hugging: study
I feel the study would have been better if they compared different countries in an international hug-off. This is still pretty good though.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden - While Swedes have a reputation of being reserved, a new study shows they'll hug just about anyone except their boss.Nine out of 10 Swedes embrace somebody at least once a week, with women aged 30-44 being the most active huggers, according to the study presented Thursday by the Swedish Red Cross.
About 70 per cent of the 1,036 people interviewed between Nov. 5-8 said they had hugged their partner or spouse that week, while 59 per cent said they had hugged a friend or acquaintance.
One-quarter had hugged a work colleague of the same sex, while 14 per cent had embraced a co-worker of the opposite gender.
Only four per cent hugged their boss.
The study by the Synovate polling institute also found that there is a certain etiquette to Swedish hugging traditions.
More than 80 per cent said it was appropriate to hug a person in mourning, while 55 per cent said they would hug a stranger who had just found their wallet.
Sixty per cent said hugging a vague acquaintance at a party was not OK.
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November 30, 2007 at 04:52 pm by Rob Peters, 859 views, 10 comments
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p3nnylan3
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ArwenUndomiel
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T. Alter
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Comments (10)
at 18:55 on November 30th, 2007
Switzerland's Jubaira Bachmann squeezing her little niece during her visit to Los Angeles.
at 19:10 on November 30th, 2007
Rob Peters a.k.a. hug-a-lot csorcerer!
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angreatat 19:42 on November 30th, 2007
this ones a good hug, too!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55312730@N00/147220980/in/set-72057594136034327/
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Rissifishat 07:06 on December 1st, 2007
Americans love hugging too!
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ArwenUndomielat 08:51 on December 1st, 2007
Good for the Swedes! :-) I can`t imagine a day without hugs. I seriously believe if people gave out & received more hugs everyday, we`d all be a little happier.
at 10:14 on December 1st, 2007
Yup. So much of our mass culture, it seems, is an attempt to replace the feeling one gets from such a simple act.
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jaclynbaileyat 11:02 on December 1st, 2007
Angie and Carole have known each other for a long time, but due to life had not seen each other in several years. I envited them both to the babyshower for my baby, Aeddon. When they saw each other for the first time they hugged because they needed to!
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LasVegasDanielleat 16:11 on December 1st, 2007
Even the smallest kitten knows that hugs are wonderful!
at 02:03 on December 2nd, 2007
We should create a nowpublic virtual hug!
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babsiemailat 07:19 on December 2nd, 2007
First love in the age of three !
Just two happy kids who like each other.