The Definitive Book of Body Language

The Definitive Book of Body Language

Most people use the Shoulder Tap to

break a clinch - sincere huggers hold

on tight. While she was holding

firmly, he was tapping rapidly

This chapter covers some of

the most common head ges-

tures and body language

clusters you are likely to see in

your day-to-day dealings with

others.

The Head Nod

In most cultures the Head Nod is used to signify 'Yes' or agree-
ment. It's a stunted form of bowing - the person symbolically
goes to bow but stops short, resulting in a nod. Bowing is a
submissive gesture so the Head Nod shows we are going along
with the other person's point of view. Research conducted
with people who were born deaf, dumb and blind shows that
they also use this gesture to signify 'Yes', so it appears to be an
inborn gesture of submission.
In India, the head is rocked from side to side, called the
Head Wobble, to signal 'Yes'. This is confusing for Westerners
and Europeans, who use this gesture to communicate 'Maybe
yes - maybe no'. As we've already said, in Japan, head nodding
doesn't necessarily mean 'Yes, I agree' - it usually means 'Yes
I hear you.'

Head nodding has its origins in

bowing to appear subordinate.

In Arab countries they use a single, upward head movement,
which means 'no' while Bulgarians use the common 'no

gesture to mean 'yes'