What’s in a Handshake?

Handshake – it’s a non-verbal form of communication that can send across multiple messages. One person can create a perception of another by a mere handshake. It is one of the most practiced customs among people when meeting each other for the first time. So what’s the psychology behind a handshake?

The Wet One. If person’s hand is wet or damp, then that person is either insecure or nervous.

The Bone-Crusher. If a person squeezes or clamps with bone-crushing tightness, this person is wrong to think that it shows control. It also shows the lack of people skills.

Fingertips Only. If a person shakes another person’s hand using only the forefingers, then this person doesn’t have a clue on how to greet another person via handshake. This person is uncomfortable and gives out an inferior aura.

Wishy-Washy. If a person boringly shakes another’s hand, then that person is a wishy-washy type.

The Stiff One. If a person extends a board-stiff hand with thumb sticking up, then that person is clueless, insecure, and uncomfortable.

Gloves On. People who don’t take their gloves off before shaking someone else’s hand are giving out the wrong impression of being socially unaware. As a sign of courtesy, one should remove his or her hand gloves before a handshake, unless he or she is part of royalty.

The Professional One. If a person gives a firm and strong handshake, then this person is socially savvy and confident.

Double Shake. If a person uses both of his or her hands to shake someone else’s hands, it’s a way of showing emotional support to the other.

Who knew that a simple handshake can make or break a first impression? It is part of social etiquette to give the right handshake to give the right signals. However, it’s not only perception of others one can obtain from a handshake. Germs, bacteria, virus, and diseases can be contracted through a mere handshake. Pathogens like cold, cough and flu viruses, Epstein-Barr virus, giardiasis, typhus, hepatitis A, Salmonella, Staph bacteria, Strep bacteria, and all other communicable diseases can be transmitted through physical contact like a handshake. Frequent hand washing is therefore extremely important.

For those in the service industry like restaurants, malls, boutiques, and hotels, it is important to keep public toilet furnaces free from contaminants. Touchless technology like Touchless Dispensers, hygienic door handles like SanitGrasp, and fast hand dryers like The Veltia Hand Dryer, are the perfect means in reducing disease transmission.

So what’s in a handshake? It’s everything “unseen”.

Incoming search terms:

sanitgrasp