1/ THREAD: Body Language Analysis No. 4418: LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the 'Bro Hug' — #Nonverbal #EmotionalIntelligence #BodyLanguage #BodyLanguageExpert #Giannis #LeBron #LeBronJames #BroHug #Hug 
2/ On Thursday night, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the LA Lakers, 111-104. Giannis Antetokounmpo outscored LeBron James, 34 to 21.
3/ Many have said this game represented a passing/changing of the guard moment between a current/declining superstar and an upcoming/crescendoing superstar.
4/ In the above image, we see James and Antetokounmpo in the midst of a hug.
5/ Of course, it's important and obvious to note that this hug was intended from the outset to be a mutual bro-hug and not an affectionate hug.
6/ Moreover, this hug also occurred during/after a televised professional basketball game. In such public forums, most people would never be as affectionate as they would be otherwise.
7/ However, say, for example, you received this same hug from a family member or even your partner or potential partner. What would it indicate?
8/ One Body Language nuance that you should notice immediately is that their hands are clenched.
9/ In this context, given their other simultaneous nonverbal signals, such a fist-like configuration is NOT a hidden signal of hidden hostility (but it could be — if certain other body language signals were different).
10/ However, their fist-like configurations are signals that their hug has a *Low Affection Quotient* compared with other varieties of hugs.
11/ A fist-like configuration is also a signal of high adrenaline — which, again, is quite expected given the context.
12/ Other signals of Low-Affection include:
• LeBron's open eyes (closed eyes during hugs correlate strongly with higher affection)
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• LeBron's open eyes (closed eyes during hugs correlate strongly with higher affection)
and ...
13/ • Their heads are angled away from each other (one's head, particularly the region around the eyes, foreheads, and temple — touching those same areas on the other person correlates very highly with strong affection).
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14/ • Giannis Antetokounmpo's torso is oriented at an angle/twisted mildly to Lebron's torso (Parallel torsos indicate high affection levels.)
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15/ • Although we cannot see them head to toe, Giannis and LeBron appear to be leaning into the hug/with their feet far apart and angled away from the other person's feet ...
16/ (With high affection levels, we don't lean into the hug as much and our body would be closer to the other person, including our feet. Importantly, our feet and our lower body would be pointed at, not angled away from, the other person ...
17/ ... And of course, although it doesn't apply in this Basketball scenario, with very high affection levels the hips are touching along with most of the entire front of one's body.)
18/ SUMMARY: Although a 'Bro Hug' does indicate a friendliness during a greeting and/or departure, it carries a low level of affection — often this just above that of an acknowledgment.
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19/ A 'Bro Hug' should not be used in the context of high-affection interactions (especially in private), however, it may be seen if one or both of the people have hidden hostility, rivalry, or a fear of public displays of affection.
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