Jimbo Fisher, head football coach of the No. 1 ranked Florida State University, is pictured here hugging his son, Ethan. Ethan Fisher has a rare blood disorder - Fanconi Anemia. It is transmitted autosomal recessively (thus requiring a single gene from each parent) and occurs in one of every 350,000 births (although higher in some demographics). These unfortunate people lack the ability for some DNA repair and as a result most develop cancer and bone marrow failure.
From a body language point of view, this image is a great illustrator of affection display during a hug. Hugs are sadly all too rare - the average one lasting only about three seconds with sincere hugs lasting longer.
One of several indicators of both affection and sincerity is eye closure during a hug. Ninety percent of a human being's sensory input is visual - and forty percent of the mass of the brain is dedicated to the visual system. Thus when the eyes are closed during a hug, there is a momentary small yet significant shunting of a portion of blood flow away from the visual centers and a down-regulation of electrical-chemical activity there. This allows the other four senses as well as the cognitive and emotional centers of the brain to up-regulate and become more sensitive. When we automatically close our eyes during a hug, it is because of our subconscious desire to experience every last drop of emotion. Our emotional brain wants to maximize the experience.
Good luck Ethan Fisher - a long life of joy and health to you.
See also:
Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1855: Sincere Kisses & Closed Eyes
Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1898: Heat, Hugs & Head Surrogates
Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2108: Rihanna's and Chris Brown's Kiss and Hug What are they REALLY feeling?
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2482: Alex Rodriguez's Sincerity Body Language of a One-Sided Smile
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2438: Sincere Surprise Body Language Three Year Old Receives Brain Stem Implant and Hears for the First Times
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2578: Obamacare Website Apology - Sincere vs. Insincere?
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2665: Nick Saban's "Tongue in Cheek" Body Language - What Does It Mean?
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2663: Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy Engaged - A Body Language Sign of Affection
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