INTRODUCTION: A CIVILIZED ANIMAL

Instinctive behaviour has been an eternal risk factor in human communities. Once sentimental values have increasingly been associated with natural human needs and physical functions, behavioural norms have been created to control these needs. For example, human aggressiveness, sexuality, table manners and bodily secretions, even tears, have been under constant surveillance.

1.POSTURE AND BODY LANGUAGE

The first chapter takes the reader for a walk: what is the first impression signalled by posture and body language, and what are the rules related to behavioural conduct. The body language, without a word spoken, always captures our attention, whether we are aware of it or not. We constantly observe the changing expressions, gestures and positions of our co-participants in social situations. The social gender and nature of man is mainly interpreted through the external appearance signalled by body language.

2.GREETING

The second chapter deals with the various ways we greet our friends and new acquaintances. Early on, greeting was tied up with survival or controlling aggressive behaviour. Courtesy rules used to be precautions against violence.

3.TABLE MANNERS

When the King of France compelled the nobility to convene in the court of Versailles, the wild knights were left unarmed. This caused a change in the nature of the rivalry between the nobly: instead of making war, they started to make a rival of table manners. Table manners are still one means of making ourselves socially distinguished. People evaluate each other, for example, when they eat in a gourmet restaurant where rules resembling the court etiquette must be followed.

4.NATURAL PHYSICAL NEEDS AND BODILY SECRETIONS

In the fourth chapter we learn about the rules related to defecating and other natural needs and bodily secretions. Today, it is a taboo to talk about them in public, and we learn the prudery connected with this field of life in our early childhood. When we grow up, we learn to keep such natural needs further in the area of privacy.

5.CRYING AND LAUGHING

As late as in the Middle Ages, crying in the public was considered a sign of a noble mind. In the fifth chapter the author describes the proper or improper moments for crying or laughing and explains why we want to control the need to express our feelings.

6.AGGRESSIVENESS

If behavioural rules are not followed or if such rules do not exist, aggressive situations easily arise. Even the lack of polite glances and gestures may lead to open aggressiveness. The sixth chapter describes how man’s tendency to violent behaviour has been bridled.

7.SEXUALITY

The behavioural rules related to sex and sexuality go back to ancient times. Unlike other animals, man’s sexual drive is continuous throughout the year. This has led to the fact that the human sexual drive is restricted by numerous cultural norms

8. NEW DIGITAL MEDIEVAL TIMES

People behave in social media as if they were living in the medieval times.

EPILOGUE: FROM ANCIENT BABYLONIA TO MODERN EUROPE

In the final chapter the author concludes that lamenting the manners of the young generation is as old as the history of man.