Human history: The horror of handshakes explained

Penelope J. Corfield of Royal Holloway, University of London, offers a compelling examination of the dangers of handshakes in human history

Shaking hands sends a message of optimism. Strangers can meet and greet on the basis of trust and friendliness. This gesture connects two people who are not necessarily equal in terms of worldly status or wealth. However, in the moment of mutual greeting, they behave as social equals. They use a known social signal within a shared community.

So how can things go wrong? The answer is that people, being human, can always differ and sometimes misuse greetings. There is horror.

Such possibilities, of course, do not mean that people should not be prepared to establish fair relations with their fellow humans. However, the fact that greetings can send a variety of messages means people need to remain vigilant. Not every smiling stranger is automatically a friend. Some may actually be indifferent. Others are sometimes downright deceptive.

Enemies may flatter to deceive

Here is an example of wartime betrayal. The incident was recorded in the fifteenth-century Chronicles of Jean Froissart. He was a Low Countries historian who witnessed the chronic war between England and France.

Froissart reported that a French warrior was once surrounded by a rival army in his castle. With things at a stalemate, the rival generals began negotiating a local ceasefire. The besieger came to the barred castle gates and held out his hand to confirm the treaty in a diplomatic gesture that was accepted.

But alas! The treacherous besieger was not to be trusted. The general inside opened a small window in the castle gate and stuck out his own hand, saying ‘pour faire jurer sa foi’ (to pledge his faith). And later? The besieger took him by the hand and threatened to nail him to the castle gate unless the besieged general threw away the keys of the castle and surrendered. And he did it duly.

In this case, relying on diplomacy was a complete mistake. People betray and bargain, especially in the heat of battle. Therefore, it is necessary to be extra careful when dealing with open enemies.

Business deals signed with a handshake can fail

Starting in the seventeenth century, handshakes to confirm business deals became increasingly common throughout Europe.

They signaled that both individuals (from different countries, backgrounds, or religious groups) were pledging in good faith.

Once again, the question may be asked: What could go wrong? So many things! There were (and still are) a lot of potential slippages between making an unwritten agreement and completing it.

To begin with, two trembling hands may have different memories of the agreed upon topic. The second problem was (and still is) the possibility that one or the other of the two parties would subsequently fail to deliver. They may be defeated by adverse circumstances. Or they may decide to renege on the deal then or later.

Legally, in the United Kingdom, handshake agreements (also known as “gentleman’s agreements”) are considered potentially valid. Numerous test cases have confirmed this point. However, those who file the lawsuit do not always win.

Blue vs. Ashley (2017)

Let’s look at the Blue and Ashley case, which was heard in the UK Supreme Court in 2017. Two rich businessmen met in a bar in London and chatted in the shop. But did Sports Direct Director Mike Ashley make a binding agreement to pay investment banker Jeffrey Blue a huge bonus in certain circumstances? Blue definitely thought so. When Ashley refused to pay, he took legal action.

During the case there was much debate about whether a bar in London was a normal place to make financial deals. Blue stated that Mike Ashley was an “unorthodox” man who often combined alcohol consumption with business meetings. Ashley admitted to adopting this practice from time to time. However, the judge’s decision in this case was against Blue.

For a ‘handshake agreement’ to be valid, there must be good evidence that a serious offer has been made and accepted for a specific purpose and cost. But in this case, the alleged deal was met with much laughter from those in the bar. Therefore the judge was not convinced.

Due to the difficulty of proof, lawyers today argue that all ‘handshake agreements’ must be made in the presence of – at a minimum – sober witnesses. Ideally, all agreements should be recorded in writing and witnessed. Of course, the horror may still continue. However, such measures make it much easier for victims to receive compensation.

Handshakes are not always compatible

Social handshakes also contribute to differences in performance styles. Usually those shaking hands look directly at each other, sometimes looking deeply into the other person’s eyes.

Therefore, a sniveling individual who wants to be marginally rude may stare fixedly at the floor throughout the process. And someone who clearly wants to be rude may turn their head and look in the opposite direction.

Moreover, tough guys can turn shaking hands into an unofficial competition. They shake each other’s hands with great ferocity to show their dominance. Caught by surprise, his victims double their suffering, leaving the attackers to rejoice in a (worthless) victory.

This option is not available to everyone, but there are simple alternatives. One side may hold out a completely limp hand, like a soft lettuce leaf. He quickly steps out of the handshake and abruptly ends the handshake. Those around may not even realize it, but an overly loose hand – whether adopted deliberately or unintentionally – has insidiously directed disdain.

Infinite permutations

There is no end to the permutations that creative people devise. Special handshakes exist among some American campus fraternities and sororities. And Freemasons are known for having their own variant of the secret. When shaking hands, they indicate their status within the Brotherhood by the special positioning of the fingers and thumbs.

All this demonstrates such well-known human qualities as versatility and invention. Hands wave in various moods and styles. Therefore, it is wise to remain vigilant, especially when dealing with known enemies.

So does the occasional horror mean people should stop shaking hands? Like hell! The ideals of trust and fair play between people shine as bright as ever.