In thinking about handshaking in my own life, it is interesting to note some variations that I had not been aware of before studying haptics. First of all, when people shake my hand, I can immediately form an impression of what type of person it is, and I am aware that handshakes with women are different than handshakes with men (Katz & Katz, 1983, p. 130).
When I shake the hand of a man that has just been introduced to me, the handshake seems rather formal. Either he or I extend our hands in a rather awkward, jutting fashion, and usually the older, higher-statused person reaches out first. There usually is no other touching in connection with the formal handshake, and it doesn't last very long, maybe three or four pumps up and down. The formal handshake I believe is higher up in front of the body than the more relaxed type that might be used with a male relative (Katz & Katz, 1983, p. 131).
During the formal handshake I can determine from the temperature of the person's hand, the degree of moistness, and the length of the grasp what type of person the individual probably is. I feel more comfortable with people who have a slightly warm, very slightly moist hand with a medium to long time of grasp. I am suspicious of a person whose hands are very dry or crusty, extremely wet with perspiration, or who are limp and passive during the handshake (Katz & Katz, 1983, p. 133). I also don't feel comfortable with a cold hand inside mine.
When I shake hands with a male relative, it is often much more vigorous. With my father, for instance, the handshake would be rather long and combined with the left hand on the shoulder. He might grip my right shoulder with his left hand or pat my shoulder while shaking my hand (Knapp & Hall, 1992, p. 239). This would usually be combined with a lot of grinning and "hellos." Sometimes either my dad or I will combine the handshake with a kind of mock swing of the left fist, hitting the other ...