A hug can soothe your mind, reduce your stress and actually activate oxytocin, the “love hormone,” in your body. But new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York reveals that not all hugs are harmless – some partners use touch as a means of control.
People with “dark triad” personality traits – narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism – are more likely to use touch to manipulate their partners, according to a new paper published in Current Psychology by Richard Mattson, professor of psychology at Binghamton University, and a team of students.