Monday September 20, 2010
Monday Starters - By Soo Ewe Jin
HOW many hands do you have to shake daily in the course of work? Certainly not as many as politicians but still enough for you to be able to know that there are subtle differences in the way a handshake is executed.
As with all forms of social behaviour, one can supposedly read a lot into the way a handshake is given, or received. More so when the two individuals are in business or politics.
In my opinion, a handshake is simply a form of greeting and I appreciate it when it is firm and friendly but not too firm that you feel he is trying to break your hand.
And the reason I am writing about this to brighten up your Monday is that scientists from University College London have determined that a firm handshake is a sign of longevity.
Monday Starters - By Soo Ewe Jin
HOW many hands do you have to shake daily in the course of work? Certainly not as many as politicians but still enough for you to be able to know that there are subtle differences in the way a handshake is executed.
As with all forms of social behaviour, one can supposedly read a lot into the way a handshake is given, or received. More so when the two individuals are in business or politics.
In my opinion, a handshake is simply a form of greeting and I appreciate it when it is firm and friendly but not too firm that you feel he is trying to break your hand.
And the reason I am writing about this to brighten up your Monday is that scientists from University College London have determined that a firm handshake is a sign of longevity.
The strength of your handshake could be a clue to how long you’ll live, according to findings revealed in the latest issue of British Medical Journal which was picked up by the mainstream press last week.
The study was carried out at the Medical Research Council-funded Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing and combined the results of more than 30 earlier research projects, involving tens of thousands of people, which looked at “physical capability” and mortality.
Basically, the researchers found that death rates over the period of the studies were 67% higher in people with the weakest grip strength compared with the strongest.
The study also shows that the slowest walkers are almost three times more likely to die compared with the fastest and those slowest to rise from a chair had double the mortality rate compared with those quickest to their feet.
So, in a nutshell, if you give a firm handshake, walk at a brisk pace, and are quick to get off your chair when someone enters the room, the scientists are telling you that you’ve still a long way to go before you kick the bucket.
I am sure there is no universal definition of the various types of handshakes, but I found this information on the Internet quite humorous in explaining the two extremes of handshakes.
·The Knuckle Cruncher: This type of person is earnest but nervous. While meaning to convey warmth through a tight grip of your hand, the person only causes you pain. The impression created is definitely that of a person who lacks sensitivity.
·Dead Fish Handshaker: This type of person, who places a limp, lifeless hand in yours, is sending a negative message. While the knuckle cruncher hurts you, at least there is a desire to express a real feeling. You are left with the impression of this person having a lacklustre personality.
The UCL scientists will surmise differently: The knuckle cruncher will live long and healthy and the dead fish handshaker is in serious trouble, healthwise.
If you are either a Knuckle Cruncher or Dead Fish, consider practising on a long-suffering friend to perfect a nice, in-between grip – something that says, “I’m not sure if I’ll live to a ripe old age but I sure am enjoying my time here.”
# Deputy executive editor Soo Ewe Jin wonders if people still subscribe to the saying that “a man’s word is his bond, a handshake is a contract.”
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