The idea behind shaking hands is all a social construct. You think your firm grip asserts dominance and makes you seem powerful. All it really does is make someone elseโs hand hurt.
Itโs all in the culture of your area. Some places kiss cheeks, others shake hands. Thereโs no one universal way to greet another person, especially through the touching that many cultures use for introductions.
What happens when you get it wrong?
Thereโs a whole social anxiety aspect to these physical greetings. How do you casually tell someone that you donโt want to be touched when itโs in their culture to touch you?
Beyond that, if weโre to always accept touching that we donโt want, where does the line of appropriate touching end?
The best way to avoid an awkward encounter is to assess the situation and act accordingly. If itโs a formal setting, be formal. If itโs casual, be casual. In the same way you wouldnโt grab someoneโs ass in an interview, donโt shake hands at an orgy. Of course, as always, if youโre unsure, just ask for permission.
After all, these gestures are supposed to be natural. When we overcomplicate the process by thinking about it and analyzing it, thatโs when our cultural gestures get complicated.
Even if you accidentally shake hands instead of kissing cheeks, we all have to realize that thereโs no one right way to greet another person.
Chill out, be awkward and introduce yourself to some new people. Donโt worry too much about the handshake that starts it off.
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