<p>Why are people patriotic? </p>
<p>And why do people clap their hands… is this a natural expression? </p>
<p>It might be great to hear from someone with a psychology background or something, too.</p>
<p>clapping hands is the loudest convenient sound u can make without your voice</p>
<p>I’m sure the exuberant displays of approval and appreciation are common to all people and cultures, but I doubt that doing so by clapping hands is hard-wired into us. For example, when gathered together in groups, deaf people applaud by waving their hands over their heads – visual instead of auditory applause. The urge to applaud is the same. The method of applause is different.</p>
<p>Wow- those are really interesting, thought-provoking questions, myarmin. First, the patriotism. I think because we are by nature social creatures, we affiliate with those around us. This is true for families, neighborhoods, dormitories/residential colleges (at my s’s school each student felt that their res college was the best, even though they were randomly assigned), communities, then going on to cities, states, regions, countries. If ou recall the “Patty Hearst syndrome” research, she began to affiliate with and have sympathy for her captors.</p>
<p>Clapping, I think, had its roots in patting someone on the back for support and encouragement, so clapping is sort of like patting them remotely. that may be far fetched, but I remember reading that somewhere.</p>
<p>I am interested to hear what others think.</p>