Clap, clap, clap, why do we clap?

[CaptainPanic]

I recently did a presentation, and received an applause. And it was good, until I started to think about it, which I probably shouldn't have done.

So, is clapping a cultural thing? If so, who started it? Do we know of cultures that do not clap/applaud to show approval?

Wikipedia says it is probably as old as humanity, so could it be that it goes deeper, more like a dog wagging its tail?

[pwagen]

I wonder if it isn't as simple as applauds being so simple. It's easy to perform and very easy to measure the reaction (louder, more intensive means "more" reaction). If booing existed back in the good old days, the sound of clapping would have been easy to differentiate from the negativity of a roaring boo.

 

Just my two, quick cents.

[CaptainPanic]

I wonder if it isn't as simple as applauds being so simple.

 

I often find myself in a position where I want to applaud, but I have a glass (of beer) in my hand. It is not always easy.

[Phi for All]

I often find myself in a position where I want to applaud, but I have a glass (of beer) in my hand. It is not always easy.

 

That's probably why clapping caught hold. People got tired of losing liquids when banging their mugs against the table to show their support. Or maybe propriety took over in one of the stricter eras (Victorian England, US Prohibition, etc.) and people had no mugs with them while being entertained.

[fresh]

my understanding is that arm and hand movement accounts for at least 50% of our body language.

clapping is like hug which is a body reaction to something that makes people excited.

example of body language:

 

shocking : raise our hands to cover our mouth;

excited to see your boyfriend/girlfriend : hug;

pissed off : waving fists;

 

our body will automatically respond to context. it is so handy to use our arm and hand to show our emotion, hence clapping loudly.

 

clapping is for long distance while hug and shaking hands are for short distance.

how to let others notice our body language ? we also have to make loud noise.

[dimreepr]

I wonder if it’s related to a chimp display, essentially making lots of noise to impress the ladies, but as our intelligence grew and our language developed, maybe it’s a more refined version; noise level equals excitement level.

[Dekan]

I think you make a very convincing argument. "Clapping" grew from chimp displays, as you suggest. When chimps get excited, don't they jump up and down, waving their arms about - whence the human "Clap". And don't chimps also make hooting noises - whence the human "Boo"

 

That seems to close the case, with a satisfying click of finality.

 

 

 

[Phi for All]

While it might be a natural offshoot of a more primitive attention-getting display, at some point it morphed into a sign of approval. It became less about "look at me" and became more about "I like that". Perhaps that part developed as hunters described their exploits to the gatherers in their tribe, receiving approval through hoots and howls and banging on whatever was available.