Professor on the future of the handshake after the pandemic: "Collective memory is short"

2021-09-20T07:31:25.604Z

The way we greet each other during the beginning of the pandemic changed rapidly. Jonas Stier, professor of social work at Mälardalen University, does not believe that we will fully return to the normal situation that was before the pandemic. - What is a normal mode? Everything changes all the time. Just look at smart phones and how we use that technology, which has changed in just ten years, he says.

The handshake almost disappeared and was replaced by elbow greetings, variants of greeting with the feet or just with a wave.

- The interesting thing is that the greeting itself remains, we do not remove it.

We need ways to greet, says Jonas Stier.

Interesting for researchers

Usually, such a comprehensive change in behavior can take several years, but with the pandemic, it has gone very fast, says Jonas Stier.

- We who have researched cultural variations when it comes to greetings and non-verbal language have seen it happen for real and at home, he says.

• In the video above, you hear Jonas Stier about the future of the handshake and how our social interaction has been affected by the pandemic

Pros and cons of digital life

Jonas Stier also believes that the pandemic has led to some advantages, as we can take part in lectures and other things without having to travel far.

But there are also things that have been lost in the digital life.

In the clip below, Jonas Stier talks about the advantages and disadvantages of meetings at a distance.

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Direct report · How do you want to greet when the restrictions are released?

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1 tim08.04

Like the east with the palms facing each other and a slight bend.

Lena Andersson

2 tim07.15

Hand on heart and of course a comment❤

Neighbors

2 tim07.13

Putting the right hand on the heart is for me a respectful way of greeting.

It has worked very well.

Rose-Marie Jacoby

Source: svt

Professor on the future of the handshake after the pandemic: "Collective memory is short"

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Direct report · How do you want to greet when the restrictions are released?

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