Nice to sniff you: Handshakes may engage our sense of smell
Tuesday, March 3, 2015 - 11:40
in Psychology & Sociology
Why do people shake hands? A new study suggests one of the reasons for this ancient custom may be to check out each other's odors. Even if we are not consciously aware of this, handshaking may provide people with a socially acceptable way of communicating via the sense of smell. People sniff their hands twice as much after a handshake.