Re: What is the origin of clapping ones hands?

Hi Matt,

That's a good question you ask. I didn't find anything conclusive either, but would recommend you look up the works of zoologist Desmond Morris. Among other books, he wrote one about human gestures, and it may contain part of your answer.

My guess would be that this behavior is partially instinctive. Babies seem to do it when they first learn to respond to sight and sound. I do not think that hand-clapping as applause is universal, though - in some cultures, stomping feet is the proper practice to symbolize approval after a performance. In fact, you can see this with musicians in orchestras, who will stomp their feet on the stage in lieu of clapping.

Clapping is also an effective way to keep a beat when all other instruments (such as drums) are unavailable. Hands are useful percussion instruments!

The action of clapping after a performance is something we learned somewhere along the way. Since it is not universal, it may simply be something that we learn, along the way, from our parents or other human beings as being the proper way to show approval.

Do look up the Morris book on gestures - it is an extremely interesting read!

Gestures, their origins and distribution / Desmond Morris ... [et al.]. New York : Stein and Day, 1979.

Good luck,

Marie-Helene "What's the sound of one hand clapping?" Boyer