Handshake: A Healthy Shake For Sound Social Interaction: An Underrated Part of Non Verbal Communication-

Abstract

Non verbal language has long been recognised as the bodily cues that one gives away, unknowingly or knowingly, expressing more than what just words can say. Although most of these bodily cues are subconscious behaviours handshake has been socially accepted as a tool for interaction or a form of icebreaker between people who show inclination towards social interaction. As a social cognitive behavior, handshake is widely used by people of all regions, ages, gender and strata. It is a gesture that one observes in the formative years and adapts as one evolves in the social circles. What one doesn’t realise is the fact that ‘Handshake’ is an art and speaks volumes about a person’s personality, status and upbringing. The art, fortunately, can be learnt and used for communicating feelings, position and intentions. It can also help one understand what others are communicating nonverbally, thereby becoming more successful in social and professional life. The fact that a simple handshake is capable of communicating great emotions can also be enumerated by the example that hands are proffered each time we want to convey the feelings of compassion, solidarity, sympathy and even pity.  The present paper is an attempt to discuss handshake as a communication tool and to understand various forms of handshakes and their interpretation so as to establish a more acceptable and successful form to attain the desired result whether it’s developing amicability or despicability.