Reflection on Social Behaviour of Chinese in China

What is social behavior? Social behavior is behavior among two or more organisms, typically from the same species. Social behavior is exhibited by a wide range of organisms including social bacteria, slime molds, social insects, social shrimp, naked mole-rats, and humans. Based on the past three weeks in China, I realized handshakes are often seen as a norm and is always initiated by the other Chinese counterpart which is the same as in Singapore.

There are many forms of handshakes that I observed in China. For example, handshake between Mr. Thu and the teacher-in-charge from the vocational college, during the ceremony that we students get our certificate of studying in China, handshake between the buyer and the seller after coming to a common agreement of the negotiation for the price of the product, handshakes between me, Sheen and the China students after finished a men’s doubles badminton match. All these different handshakes have different meaning. To express gratitude to the other party, respect the other party for the good game even though we didn’t know them or to even greet someone you are going have to work along in future. Frequently, a nod act as initial greeting in China. A bow is not often used unless if you are attending a ceremony.

Another thing is when visiting a school, workplace or a place where most likely someone will welcome you with an applause. In response, you should applaud back to acknowledge their effort for welcoming you. I realized that Singapore and China have the same social behavior. Another social norm is that Chinese in China don’t use hand gestures when speaking unless needed necessarily. This may annoy them when someone attempt to do so. One point to take note is to use the whole hand to point rather than just the index finger because they may feel like not being respected or trying to pick a fight and do not pat on someone’s else shoulder, he or she who are older or of a higher authority dislike being touched by strangers.

Second point to take note is to always acknowledge the most senior person in the group first, try not to look straight into the eyes of higher authority. It is considered as quite offensive or rude during a meeting. An offense or insult to the other party in China during a discussion or meeting is considered as a failure.