Red-faced Britons endure 84 embarrassing social situations every year, according to a new study. Researchers found 78 percent of us dread having to be sociable, with the average person experiencing a truly toe-curling experience seven times a month. The study - which has also revealed the top 20 awkward social situations - also revealed more than a third of us have made a recent, sweat-inducing 'greeting faux pas' - with forgetting someone's name when introducing them the most common (43 percent). A quarter of us have gone in for a hug when the other person expected a handshake, 26 percent have introduced themselves to someone they have already met and 15 percent have kissed someone on the lips by mistake. The study also found, once a greeting faux pas has been made, 26 percent of Brits try to cover up the embarrassment by making a joke, while a bashful 22 percent admit to going red in the face. According to the poll, the most cringe inducing situation imaginable is bumping into someone you have previously had confrontation with, according to 36 percent of those surveyed.
Other moments which leave us mortified include introducing someone to another person when you have forgotten their name (32 percent), meeting someone who used to be in a relationship with your partner (28 percent) and talking to someone you secretly find attractive (26 percent). When it comes to the people we feel most uncomfortable greeting - potential employers came top with 31 percent - followed by first dates (19 percent) and partner's parents (12 percent). And the study revealed more than half of Brits (54 percent) worry about their own body odour, while 45 percent have concerns about having bad breath in a social situation. A spokesperson from CB12 First Class Breath, which commissioned the study of 1,500 British adults, said: 'Even the most confident person will experience social anxiety at some point in their lives. 'Whether it's meeting a partner's parents for the first time or stepping into an interview - we all need a little help to get through these awkward situations looking and feeling great. 'While we can't prepare for every eventuality in life, paying attention to the basics can really help boost your confidence, so you can take on any situation head on and avoid the blushes.'
20 MOST AWKWARD BRITISH SOCIAL SITUATIONS 1. Greeting someone who used to be in a relationship with your partner 2. Greeting a new business contact 3. Meeting your partner's parents for the first time 4. Going on a first date 5. Talking to someone you find attractive 6. Bumping into someone you've previously had confrontation with 7. Meeting up with someone you met online 8. Greeting a room full of people in a business situation 9. Greeting a room full of people in a social situation 10. Bumping in to someone you know reasonably well in the street 11. Bumping into someone you've previously had a relationship with 12. Meeting your idol / a celebrity 13. Being interviewed for a new job / role 14. Dancing with someone 15. A first kiss 16. Standing up to someone you disagree with 17. Receiving a compliment from someone 18. Being told by someone you have something on your face or teeth 19. Introducing someone when you've forgotten their name 20. Having to stand in someone's personal space on a packed train or bus ? |
|