We’ve all done it. You’re at a bar watching the game, your team scores, and suddenly you’re slamming your palm against a stranger’s hand. It’s the high five. It feels instinctive, almost primal, but have you ever stopped to think about where it actually came from or why it makes your brain light up like a Christmas tree? Most people assume it’s been around forever. Honestly, it hasn't. Compared to the handshake or the bow, the high five is a relative newcomer to the human repertoire of "hey, we did a good thing."
It’s more than just a slap of skin. It’s a transfer of energy. When you hit a high five, you aren't just acknowledging a success; you're synchronizing your nervous system with someone else’s. Researchers have spent a weird amount of time looking into this.
The Messy Origin Story of the High Five
The history is kinda debated. If you ask a baseball fan, they’ll point to October 2, 1977. Dodgers Stadium. Dusty Baker just hit his 30th home run of the season. As he crossed home plate, his teammate Glenn Burke was waiting with his hand thrust high in the air. Baker, not really knowing what else to do, reached up and smacked it.
"His hand was up in the air, and he was arching his back," Baker said in interviews later. "So I reached up and hit his hand. It seemed like the thing to do."
That’s the most famous version. But the basketball world has its own claim. The "Louisville First" crew, specifically Derek Smith and Wiley Brown, were known for it in the late 70s. Then there’s the "low five," which had been a staple in the African American community and the jazz scene since the 1920s. You see it in old films—Magic Johnson was a big fan of the low version before the high five took over the world. It’s a fascinating bit of cultural evolution where a subculture's gesture moved literally six feet up and became a global phenomenon.
Why Your Brain Craves That Slap
There is actual science behind why a high five feels so much better than a thumbs-up. It’s about oxytocin. That’s the "bonding hormone." When we have skin-to-skin contact, even for a fraction of a second, our brain releases a tiny hit of it.
Dacher Keltner, a psychologist at UC Berkeley, did this wild study on NBA teams. He and his team watched hundreds of hours of game footage to count "touching behaviors"—high fives, fist bumps, chest bumps. What they found was pretty staggering. The teams that touched the most at the beginning of the season were the ones that performed the best by the end of it. It didn't matter how much they were paid or how talented they were individually. The physical connection of a high five predicted cooperation and winning.
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It builds trust. Basically, you’re saying "I’ve got your back" without having to say a single word. In a fast-paced environment, words are too slow. A high five is instant.
The Psychology of Self-Encouragement
Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about the "High 5 Habit," a concept popularized by Mel Robbins. The idea is that we’re great at cheering for others but terrible at cheering for ourselves. She suggests high-fiving your own reflection in the mirror every morning.
Sounds cheesy? Maybe.
But it works because of "neuro-association." Your brain already associates the high five with winning, celebration, and "good job." By doing it to yourself, you're hacking your own neural pathways. You’re essentially tricking your brain into feeling like a winner before you’ve even had your coffee. It shifts your internal monologue from "I have so much to do today" to "I’m ready for this."
The Anatomy of a Perfect High Five
We’ve all had that awkward moment. You go for the high five, they go for the fist bump. Or you miss entirely and just awkwardly graze their fingers. It’s painful.
If you want to never miss again, here is the secret: Look at the elbow.
Seriously. Don't look at the hand. The hand is a moving target. The elbow is the fulcrum. If you track the other person’s elbow, your hand will naturally land exactly where it needs to be. It’s a bit of physics that most people ignore.
- The Power: Don't overdo it. You aren't trying to break their wrist.
- The Sound: A good one has a crisp "crack" to it. That comes from flat palms and slightly cupped fingers.
- The Timing: It’s all in the eye contact. If you aren't looking at the person, the connection is lost.
High Fives in the Workplace: A Risky Move?
In 2026, the workplace is a bit of a minefield for physical contact. Some people love the "we’re a family" vibe, while others just want to sit in their cubicle and be left alone.
Context is everything. In a high-stress sales floor or a startup environment, a high five can be a massive morale booster. It breaks the tension. But in a formal corporate setting, it might feel forced or even invasive.
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The key is "consent and comfort." If you’re a manager, you have to read the room. Some of the most effective leaders use the high five to democratize the space. It’s hard to feel like a "boss" and a "subordinate" when you’re both engaged in a celebratory slap. It levels the playing field.
Beyond the Sports Field
We see it everywhere now. In surgeries, doctors sometimes high five after a successful procedure to release stress. In schools, teachers use it to greet students at the door—a practice that has been shown to increase student engagement by nearly 20%.
Even in the digital world, we’ve tried to replicate it. The "raised hands" emoji is basically a digital high five. But let’s be real, it’s not the same. It lacks the haptic feedback. It lacks the vibration. It lacks the soul.
Common Misconceptions
People think the high five is just for kids or athletes. That’s wrong. It’s a tool for emotional regulation.
Some think it’s "unprofessional." Actually, studies in the Journal of Applied Psychology suggest that appropriate physical touch in teams reduces burnout. When we feel physically supported, our cortisol levels (the stress hormone) drop.
Another big one: "The fist bump is better because of germs." While a fist bump is technically more hygienic, the high five carries a much stronger psychological impact because of the larger surface area of contact. If you’re worried about the flu, wash your hands after, but don't sacrifice the bond.
How to Use the High Five to Change Your Life
If you’re feeling stuck or unmotivated, start small. Use the gesture to "seal" small wins. Did you finally send that email you were dreading? High five the air. Did you finish a workout? High five the mirror.
It sounds ridiculous until you do it. The physical action breaks the cycle of rumination. It forces your body into an "action" state rather than a "thinking" state.
Actionable Steps for Better Connection
- The Morning Mirror Check: Give yourself a high five in the mirror for five days straight. Notice how your internal critic gets quieter.
- The Elbow Trick: Next time you're celebrating, focus on the elbow. You’ll feel like a pro when you nail that perfect "snap" sound.
- Use it for De-escalation: If a project is going south and everyone is stressed, a quick, genuine high five can reset the mood. It’s hard to stay angry when you’re participating in a gesture of unity.
- Observe the Energy: Notice how you feel after a physical high five versus a verbal "good job." The difference is in the nervous system.
The high five isn't just a relic of 70s baseball. It’s a fundamental human tool for connection, validation, and performance. Whether you're using it to build a championship-winning team or just to get yourself out of bed in the morning, the power is literally in your hands. Use it. It’s the easiest way to change the energy of a room in less than a second.
Stop overthinking your interactions and start leaning into the simplicity of the slap. It’s fast, it’s free, and it’s one of the few things we have that is universally understood as "we’re in this together." Go find someone to high five right now. You’ll both feel better for it.