Saturday 21 January 2012

Body language for dummies: analysis and scrutiny of using your head to display power -chapter 3


How you place your head indicates whether you’re being aggressive, flirtatious, or are bored to distraction. People with power or authority position their head in ways that reinforce that power. Lift your head and tilt it backwards, and you convey a sense of superiority. Raise your head and thrust your chin forward and you send off a message don’t mess with me. If you find yourself feeling blue, lift your head in an upright position and you’ll sense your mood shift from low to high. The look of a raised head, forward thrusting chin, tilted angle and downward gaze implies arrogance; the underlying message is one of defensive posturing.
The headshake is the most common way to express a negative reaction. The head shake has two deliveries. If the listener shakes her head rapidly saying that she disagrees and wants to take over the speaker’s role. The slow shake implies that the listener is comfortable in her position and doesn’t want to take over from the speaker.
When you want to attract someone’s attention, be a potential lover, or a helping hand, and a shout or a wave would be an unsuitable choice, the head beckon is an effective gesture. This head movement is a diagonal backwards throw and may be repeated several times depending on how urgent your requests.  Touching someone on their head indicates an intimate gesture, implying trust and a deep bond between the two. It also demonstrates ones power over the other. Kissing one on the head indicates ones protective attitude or approval. The initiator implies ones superior position to the receiver.  

The strength of the nod-the degree of the up and down action-communicates the listener’s attitude. If she agrees, the head nod is a firm action. A slight nod provides feedback to the speaker letting her know how well her message is understood. The head tilt or cant is used when people are listening attentively. Although men tilt their head in an upward movement, mostly as a sign of recognition, women tilt their heads to the side in appeasement and as a playful or flirtatious gesture. When a woman tilts her head she exposes her neck, making herself look more vulnerable and less threatening.  This theory may lack validity as this could have been a male’s notion whereas females would view this as unethical.  The head tilt indicates that what you are saying doesn’t need to be taken seriously. Whereas, if you were saying something important; you would keep your head upright.

When a person is thinking she may even bring her hand to her face, put her chin into her palm. This gesture indicates that the person is thinking what to do next. If he person thinking pulls her body away from the other individual the thinking is critical, cynical or negative in some way towards the person who’s speaking.  


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