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This is the same hormone that babies release when they are held safely and that adults also release when they are held or hugged safely.
Oxytocin causes feelings of safety, relaxation, and happiness, which is why it is often called the "cuddle hormone" or the "bonding hormone."
User B replied:
I think it’s loneliness, it’s comfort, it’s something you can hold on to when you don’t have a lover to hug.
may be an insecurity. Worried that you will be hurt, you put a pillow between you and someone or something that might hurt you.
This is just my thoughts on the problem. I'm no expert, just experience.
User C replied:
Normally it is a comfortable thing and my wife has one to assist with falling asleep. Sometimes, pillows and cushions can also be used to help position the body for better comfort and as a sleeping aid.
User D replied:
It can replace a person's attachment, which can relieve some people's anxiety, I imagine a baby chimpanzee attached to its mother.
User E replied:
Hugs make you feel safe and happy at the same time. A pillow that hugs your body at night can replicate this feeling and create a sense of peace as you doze off. The emotional component associated with a hug keeps your mind from racing and you focus on the silence around you as you relax your muscles. In biological terms, let’s recap, as abdominal pressure, that is, gentle, sustained pressure along the front of the body, stimulates the release of oxytocin!
User F replied:
Hugging pillows are an alternative to hugging the human body. I think there are various psychological implications when thinking about needing someone to hold you while sleeping. For one, it shows the need for safety, security, and love when sleeping in the dark.
