Kingstone, A., Walker, E., Amin, S., & Bischof, W. F. (2024). Eyes meet, hands greet: The art of timing in social interactions. Perception, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/03010066231223440

Shaking hands is a fundamental form of social interaction. The current study used high-definition cameras during a university graduation ceremony to examine the temporal sequencing of eye contact and shaking hands. Analyses revealed that mutual gaze always preceded shaking hands. A follow up investigation manipulated gaze when shaking hands, and found that participants take significantly longer to accept a handshake when an outstretched hand precedes eye contact. These findings demonstrate that the timing between a person's gaze and their offer to shake hands is critical to how their action is interpreted.

Back to publications.