The Book of Tells (Peter Collett)[unlocked]

GREETING TELLS
Sometimes a weak handshake is a cultural convention -
in West Africa handshakes tend to be very soft. 6
However, other motives are sometimes at work. Women
who want to cultivate an impression of languid femininity
often present a rather limp hand to the person they're
greeting. Strong people often do the same, but in their
case it's to emphasize their strength. It's said that Mike
Tyson offers a relaxed, almost tender hand when he
greets people outside the boxing ring - the complete
opposite to what happens inside the ring.
• THE FIRM HANDSHAKE. A firm handshake occurs when
the fingers are wrapped round the other person's hand
and the grip is neither too tight nor too loose. William
Chaplin and his students at the University of Alabama
conducted a detailed investigation of the relationship
between handshake style and personality. 7 They discovered
that people who are extroverted and emotionally
expressive tend to use a firm handshake, whereas people
who are neurotic and shy don't. They also found that
people who have an open attitude to new experiences
use a firm handshake, but that this only applies to
women. Men who have an open attitude to new experiences
are no more likely to use a firm handshake than a
limp handshake.
• THE LIMPET HANDSHAKE. There are some people who
won't let go when they get hold of someone's hand - they
hang on like a limpet. There are several motives behind
the limpet handshake, but they all come down to the
issue of control. By holding on to someone's hand after a
handshake someone can set the agenda and engage the
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