Concept / Embrace

Embrace

A contact pose in which two people encircle one another with arms or bodies

A contact pose in which two people encircle one another with arms or bodies.

A phrase to start with

Directs the image toward a nonsexual embracing pose between two people.

Appearance and effects

Two people stand close together with arms encircling one another.

Visual traits

  • close proximity
  • mutual arms
  • contact pose

Expected changes

  • Close proximity and mutual arms between two people are more likely to appear

Five examples

1 — Two people standing apart

The standard comparison motif cannot compare a two-person embrace, so it is replaced with a neutral arrangement that does not pre-stage touch or embracing.

two people standing apart without touching, with their arms down in an open area

  • two people standing apart without touching
  • two people standing apart without touching, with their arms down in an open area
Open image ↗
2 — Two people standing apart in a bright room

The standard comparison motif cannot compare a two-person embrace, so it is replaced with a neutral arrangement that does not pre-stage touch or embracing.

two people standing apart without touching, with their arms down in a bright room

  • two people standing apart without touching
  • two people standing apart without touching, with their arms down in a bright room
Open image ↗
3 — Two people facing the same direction

The standard comparison motif cannot compare a two-person embrace, so it is replaced with a neutral arrangement that does not pre-stage touch or embracing.

two people facing the same direction with their arms down, standing apart without touching in an open area

  • two people standing apart without touching
  • two people facing the same direction with their arms down, standing apart without touching in an open area
Open image ↗
4 — Two people standing apart in a spacious room

The standard comparison motif cannot compare a two-person embrace, so it is replaced with a neutral arrangement that does not pre-stage touch or embracing.

two people standing apart without touching, with their arms down in a spacious bright room

  • two people standing apart without touching
  • two people standing apart without touching, with their arms down in a spacious bright room
Open image ↗
5 — Two people standing apart outdoors

The standard comparison motif cannot compare a two-person embrace, so it is replaced with a neutral arrangement that does not pre-stage touch or embracing.

two people standing apart without touching, with their arms down in a calm outdoor area

  • two people standing apart without touching
  • two people standing apart without touching, with their arms down in a calm outdoor area
Open image ↗

Meaning and scope

Definition

An embrace is a nonsexual contact pose in which two people encircle one another with arms or bodies. It does not determine romance, family relationship, consent, emotion, gender, age, or a cultural greeting.

In more detail

It centers on close proximity and mutual arm placement between two people. It is distinct from a handshake, assistance, fighting, and sexual contact.

Includes

  • A nonsexual contact pose in which two people encircle one another

Excludes

  • Romance, family relationship, consent, emotion, gender, age, or a cultural greeting

What this does not imply

  • Romance, family relationship, consent, emotion, gender, age, or a cultural greeting

Variability

Orientation, distance, and location can be adjusted separately.

Usage and adjustments

Usage

  • Use it for a two-person contact pose

Distinguish similar expressions

  • Specify relationship or emotion separately

Typical uses

  • Compose a nonsexual embracing pose between two people

Possible failure modes

  • It reads as a handshake, assistance, fighting, or sexual contact

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