Five Things to Know About Clapping

Clapping, an often-overlooked behavior, is so pervasive that it can be likened to yawning, smiling, and laughing—a ubiquitous part of daily life. But you may never have given it deep thought. I will delve into five intriguing insights about this seemingly simple act.

Clapping and Applauding Are Two Separate Things

Usually used as synonyms, they are different. Clapping is the action of open hands colliding to compress and explode a small air bubble between palms—mainly to produce a characteristic sound. Clapping in itself has no connotations about its meaning, as it's an objective description of the action. Clapping can capture attention, convey specific messages like "hurry up," or contribute to maintaining a rhythm.

On the other hand, applause is when the claps carry specific meanings, just as certain stylized hand movements do, such as the "thumbs up" or "okay" signs. These gestures, called emblems, are culturally understood and can be translated into words or phrases. Applauding is a conscious and deliberate action, and typically it conveys specific messages of approval, congratulations, or positive recognition.

The Origins of Clapping

The evolutionary origins of clapping remain shrouded in mystery, leaving us to ponder several possibilities.

• It may have emerged as an audible behavior that redirects peers' attention, signaling something worthy of notice, whether positive or negative.
• Clapping could represent a playful and enthusiastic non-aggressive movement akin to the "play face" observed in particular primates.
• It might serve as a display of threat or dominance, using powerful sounds and providing cues about hand size and, by extension, the individual's strength.
• Clapping could function as a means of expressing affiliation from a distance, akin to a pseudo hug.
• Clapping may have originated as a way to foster a sense of collective belonging, with the synchronized act of clapping promoting a feeling of group unity.

These explanations are all plausible, and the true origin of clapping likely encompasses elements from all of these.

Clapping May Express Your Identity

The pioneering work of Bruno Repp brought evidence that the sound produced when clapping may be unique to each individual, similar to the distinctive vocal tract sounds that can identify a person's voice. Clapping, like talking, offers a distinctive type of information about the configuration of specific movements in a given moment. Since the vocal tract sounds may convey sufficient audible information to identify a person, could this be the case for clapping also? Two subsequent studies found that algorithms could be trained to detect the spectral changes in the sound of claps and, as a result, achieve a good enough recognition rate.

Clapping Can Coordinate the Simultaneous Behavior of Thousands of Individuals

As exotic as it sounds, clapping sounds are as contagious as a disease. They go from one person to another, synchronizing between unknown persons like fire in the forest. While the factors influencing clapping "contagion," such as culture, audience, show type, and timing, are manifold, clapping's power of imitation and synchrony is rivaled only by the famous "Mexican wave" phenomenon seen in stadiums. Studies have shown that people can easily coordinate their claps, but replicating such coordination with jumps is considerably more challenging. Undoubtedly, clapping is an extraordinary behavior.

Claps May Be Used Strategically: From Intimidation to Influence

Throughout history, those in positions of power have recognized the significant social impact that clapping can have. Fascinating historical accounts reveal the strategic use of clapping to manipulate perceptions and exert influence. For instance, Emperor Heraclius of the Roman Empire orchestrated a meeting with a barbarian king, enlisting hired spectators to clap, to instill a sense of intimidation in his adversaries. Similarly, Emperor Nero famously employed the tactic of paying over 5,000 individuals to applaud him vigorously during public events, creating an illusion of widespread support.

Over time, the concept of "claques" emerged, with theater managers hiring paid applauders to enhance the audience experience. Even in the realm of television, canned applause tracks have been employed to heighten the perceived audience response. In the present day, clapping remains an integral part of sports culture, with fans using it to demonstrate their unwavering support for their favorite teams and players. In team sports, such as football, clapping also serves the additional purpose of intimidating rival teams, creating an electrifying atmosphere for home fans.

To Sum Up

Clapping and applause are universally recognized actions that usually convey positive social messages across cultures worldwide. While the precise origin of clapping remains a mystery, several hypotheses offer insights into its possible beginnings. Fascinatingly, clapping has the potential to reveal one's identity through the unique sound each individual produces. Moreover, clapping possesses an extraordinary ability to swiftly forge a sense of synchronicity among strangers, uniting thousands of individuals in a collective experience. Notably, clapping also holds a remarkable power to evoke intimidation and influence over others. Its resounding impact cannot be understated.

For Further Reading

Crawley, A. (2023). Clap, clap, clap—Unsystematic review essay on clapping and applause. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, 1-29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-023-09786-9

Repp, B. H. (1987). The sound of two hands clapping: An exploratory study. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 81(4), 1100–1109. doi: 10.1121/1.394630

Alan Crawley is a psychologist specializing in nonverbal communication and is a doctoral student at the University of California, Santa Barbara.