What is Michelle Obama’s Hugging Style?
What do Michelle Obama’s Hugs Mean?
By: Patti Wood MA

Here are my rough notes describing the meaning and style of Michele Obama’s Hugs followed by a piece I did for Daily Beast about Michele's hugging body language. 
Michele Obama is a hug initiator she goes into the hugs first and she likes to be "on top" when she hugs. Michele's preferred way of hugging is to have her arms up and around and have the other person, (if they choose to hug back), arms below hers. Going first and hugging on top are power moves and a maternal/matriarchs style of hugging.  Amazingly, she even does this with some political figures! Presidential wives have always been "bottom huggers" But, there are many photos of her hugging dominant world leaders with her arms on top.  You rarely, if ever, see women as "on top" huggers except for big stars females of Hollywood. 

Michele also likes to bring her arms up and over and wrap them fully around to fully encompass the person she is hugging. This shows affection and power. 

Typically she does not cup her hands, rather than arching the palm in soft hold she keeps the palm flat and the finger extended out and flat. That is a much more formal way of holding the hands and it gives her more property dominance. That is she takes up more space across the back. That can also send the signal, “I am strong.” And “I have your back.”

One of the most interesting and what I find is the sweetest aspect of her hugging style is that she likes to place her head right next of the head of her huggee. Sometimes, even brushing her cheek against theirs as she goes in. That is a very giving and intimate way to hug. Many huggers are only halfway huggers and don't give their full upper torso. You see them actually have conflict about being too close. You can see them hold their head slightly back and I can see tension in their necks as they make a real effort to not be too close or too intimate.  Mrs. Obama wants to have that head connection.  

I would call Mrs. Obama a Big Bear hugger which is defined by the arms being wrapped fully around the person and being pulled in tight with a quick but tight secure squeeze. This shows enthusiasm for seeing someone and can also show someone’s need to show power over or protection of the huggee. 

Here is the link to the Daily Beast article I did on this topic:
 http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/28/how-michelle-obama-became-hugger-in-chief.html