The head can send such a wide range of signals that the face and
other parts of the head are covered in other pages. Here, we focus just on
movement of the head as affected by the neck muscles.
Lowering
v A
lowered head covers the neck with the chin and hence can be a defensive posture
that can occur as a result of any perceived threat (not just physical threat).
v Lowering
the head also lowers the eyes and hence can be a sign of submission,
effectively saying 'I dare not even look at you'. The eyes are typically also
lowered here. It can be driven by affection ('you are so wonderful') or fear
('you might hurt me if I look at you').
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v Lowering
the head whilst maintaining eye contact can also be a strong flirting signal,
typically by women. It says 'You are superior and I just can't take my eyes off
you'. It can also be a sign of defiance or caution, for example when showing
respect to an enemy ('You are strong and I do not trust you').
v Sometimes,
lowering the head is just a sign of exhaustion. The head is rather heavy and a
tired person's head will sag.
v Lowering
the head can be a part of ducking as the person reflexively pulls the head down
to avoid a real or imagined hazard. This makes the body smaller and protects
the neck.
v A
single short lowering of the head can be an abbreviated nod. This is a common
greeting, perhaps as a small bow. It may also be a signal of power ('I am so
powerful people are paying will notice even a small nod'). Again it may be a
deliberate concealment, sending covert agreement to a colleague.
Raising
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v When
the head is low, raising it may be a sign of interest as the person moved to
looking at the point of interest. This is typically accompanied by other
expressions of interest such as raised eyebrows.
v From a
level position, a quick flick upwards can be a sign of query ('What do you
mean?').
v Raising
the head and looking at the ceiling may signal boredom. It may also indicate a
visual thinker who is looking at internal images. Another alternative is where
a person wants to focus on the sound and is thus averting the eyes in order to
concentrate on the sound.
Tilting
v Tilting
the head sideways can be a sign of interest, which may be in what is said or
happening. It can also be a flirting signal as it says 'I am interested in
you!'
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v Tilting
can similarly indicate curiosity, uncertainty or query, particularly if the
head is pushed forward, as if the person was trying to look at the subject in a
different way in the hope of seeing something new. The greater the tilt, the
greater the uncertainty or the greater the intent to send this signal.
v A
tilted head pulled back tends to indicate suspicion, as the uncertainty of the
tilt is combined with a defensive pulling back.
v The
tilted head exposes the carotid artery on the side of the neck and may be a
sign of submission and feelings of vulnerability.
v If the
head is propped up by the hand, it may be tiredness or an expectation of
continued interest ('This is so interesting!')
