That quiet evening in on the sofa just got a lot less relaxing.
Because far from being an innocent way to unwind, how you choose to sit on your settee could actually be divulging your innermost secrets, a new study claims.
Whether you spread out, hug a cushion or curl up with a book may reveal everything from how much you earn to what your sex life is like, experts say.
Among the eight positions identified are ‘the hogger’, who enjoys lying across the entire settee. The hogger position is pictured above
Among the eight positions identified are ‘the hogger’, who enjoys lying across the entire settee, and ‘the arm percher’, who prefers to rest across the end of the sofa.
According to the study, hoggers are likely to be the best lovers while arm perchers are statistically the worst in bed as well as the least likely to be in a relationship.
The researchers found a quarter of the nation hogs the sofa, with more than a third claiming to be good in bed.
Just four per cent of respondents said they prefer to perch on an arm – with only a fifth believing they are good lovers.
The study, which sampled 2,000 people, also found that ‘knee huggers’ are the most friendly, with 84 per cent saying they are sociable
The ‘arm percher’ prefers to rest across the end of the sofa. Just four per cent of respondents said they prefer to perch on an arm – with only a fifth believing they are good lovers
According to the research by Harveys Furniture, you are likely to be a high earner if you prefer cuddling a cushion – the favoured position for 11 per cent. Seven per cent of ‘cushion huggers’ make more than £80,000 a year on average
The most popular sofa stance is ‘the curler’ – the choice of 30 per cent of the nation.
The study found that curlers, who enjoy tucking their feet up under them, were the kindest people as well as the most likely to be in a relationship.
Meanwhile, those who favour ‘the man spreader’ – the most popular position for 12 per cent of respondents – are likely to be gym-obsessives and rarely get embarrassed.
Those who adopt the ‘undertaker’ stance – sitting on the floor and leaning back against the sofa – are the least considerate of the bunch
According to the research by Harveys Furniture, you are likely to be a high earner if you prefer cuddling a cushion – the favoured position for 11 per cent.
Seven per cent of ‘cushion huggers’ make more than £80,000 a year on average, seven times more than those who prefer to curl up.
However, curlers are likely to be brainier, with 26 per cent claiming to be book-lovers, nearly twice as many as ‘man spreaders’.
The study, which sampled 2,000 people, also found that ‘knee huggers’ are the most friendly, with 84 per cent saying they are sociable.
Meanwhile, those who adopt the ‘undertaker’ stance – sitting on the floor and leaning back against the sofa – are the least considerate of the bunch.
Psychologist Dr Rebecca Spelman said: ‘It appears the people who are most body confident are also the ones most likely to describe themselves as being good in bed.
‘Someone who is not shy about stretching out is also less likely to be shy about their body, which is usually good news for their intimate partner.
Meanwhile, those who favour ‘the man spreader’ – the most popular position for 12 per cent of respondents – are likely to be gym-obsessives and rarely get embarrassed
The percher position is pictured above. Whether you spread out, hug a cushion or curl up with a book may reveal everything from how much you earn to what your sex life is like, experts say
‘However, it might be wise to take the declarations hoggers and man spreaders make about their sexual prowess with a pinch of salt.
‘Hugging a cushion or one’s own knees can be read as a form of self-comforting, much like a child who self-comforts with a cuddly toy.
‘But these postures can also be defensive, with the person unconsciously giving the message they don’t want others to come near.
‘When we perch on the edge of a chair or sofa, we are making a display of diffidence and of reluctance to commit to one place or another.’
The most popular sofa stance is ‘the curler’ – the choice of 30 per cent of the nation. The study found that curlers, who enjoy tucking their feet up under them, were the kindest people as well as the most likely to be in a relationship