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Are Stiff Upper-Lipped Brits Becoming a Thing of the Past?

new research reveals we are a lot physically closer than fifty years ago. The UK is no longer a formal, reserved nation of stiff upper-lipped hand-shakers
Celebrities, Lifestyle - 10 August 2011   Download IconContent available for download:  
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Modern technology is often blamed for driving us apart, with parents citing social media as a top concern for their children (43%), and being placed only after financial difficulties (50%) and drugs (49%). However, a new report has revealed that the anonymity of the internet allows us to virtually share our feelings with our friends and the range of communication methods allow us to stay in more regular contact easily.

Brits are a lot physically closer than fifty years ago and are beginning to follow our European counterpart’s example. Brits think that holding hands or kissing on the cheek is the most acceptable form of public display (80%) but groping or petting (7%) or snogging (11%) are the least acceptable.

Whilst men tend to keep the same friendship group from an early age, research has shown that women are likely to make different friends at different life stages. 41% of men prefer to show affection to family and friends through a handshake compared to only 1 in
10 women, whereas nearly two thirds of women prefer to show affection by a hug or cuddle compared to under half of men.

. Introduction:

A new report has shown that Britain as a nation is a lot closer than fifty years ago and social networking has opened up new options for keeping in touch and is considered the new ‘catching up over a coffee’. It has been revealed that men and women are very different when it comes to keeping friends, with men holding onto old friendships and women making new ones through different stages in their lives.

So is it really important to be touchy feely?

Joining us to discuss this further is author of this report and TV Psychologist Professor Geoff Beattie.

. Suggested Questions:

So what does the research reveal about closeness in our area?

How do you think social media has bought us closer together?

So how have we changed as a nation over the past 50 years?

Why are men and women so different when it comes to making friends?

And why is it so important to be close from an early age?

Where can we find out more information?