Increasingly, with the influence of North American popular culture, self-disclosure and the
sharing of private and personal information is considered to be a form of bonding. The death of the
Princess of Wales in 1997 marked an unprecedented moment in British culture, where people felt
compelled to share their outpouring of grief in public. The London 2012 Olympic Games also went a long
way towards changing foreign perceptions of British culture and demonstrating the warmth and
welcoming nature of the British public.
For foreigners, it is advisable to avoid explicit gestures and physical contact such as backslapping
or hugging and to maintain a sufficient distance not to invade the personal space of anyone around you,
except where this cannot be avoided (such as when using public transport, during the rush
hour). Unnecessarily long eye contact is also considered an invasion of privacy and can be interpreted as
anything from being rude to being a sign of aggression and should therefore be avoided.
Personal Titles
People in Britain usually address each other informally in day-to-day communications using their
first names. This is the result of increasingly flat organisational structures and the encouragement of a
friendly working environment which is intended to facilitate better team work. This also depends on the
culture of the individual organisation and may be dictated by situations, such as at extremely formal
events or occasions where a certain naming etiquette must be observed.