When a handshake is more than a handshake

A new study actually proves the power of the handshake. According to Sanda Dolcos, from the Beckman Institute Department of Psychology, “We found that [a handshake] not only increases the positive effect toward a favorable interaction, but it also diminishes the impact of a negative impression. Many of our social interactions may go wrong for a reason or another, and a simple handshake preceding them can give us a boost and attenuate the negative impact of possible misunderstandings.”

The brain responds to handshake

The brain actually changes, registers a positive effect when a handshake is seen or participated in. The amygdala and superior temporal sulcus light up on a functional MRI when an individual sees the non-verbal interaction used in a business setting. The study showed an increased sensitivity to the approach behavior and a positive evaluation of the handshake.

The approach is positive

“The regions of the social cognition network are commonly engaged when people are assessing the intentions of others,” Florin Dolcos, also with Beckman Institute, said. “They had been identified before and people who have difficulty in interactions, like people with autism, have reduced response in this region. But, unlike previous studies, we simulated approach and avoidance behaviors using animated characters that displayed obvious interest or indifference for further interactions. This is the first time that such a manipulation was used in a relevant context.”

Science supports the intuition

“In a business setting this is what people are expecting, and those who know these things use them,” Dolcos said. “Not a very long time ago you could get a loan based on a handshake. So it conveys something very important, very basic. Yet the science underlying this is so far behind. We knew these things intuitively but now we also have the scientific support.”

Source: MedicalNewsToday, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience