Body Language of Hand On The Chin
Cue: Hand Supporting The Chin
Synonym(s): Chin Supporting, Hand Under The Chin, Hand To Chin.
Description: Occurs when the hand is held palm up under the chin which is then often supported by a table or desk.
In One Sentence: Supporting the chin by the hand is a sign of boredom.
How To Use it: Show others that you are bored or tired by nestling the chin into the crux of the palm. This is useful to show disinterest which may compel those viewing the signal to speed up their discourse.
Context: General.
Verbal Translation: a) “I’m bored so my hand is buttressing my chin with most of the weight so I don’t fall over completely.” b) “I’m lightly supporting my chin because I’m thinking and my chin is my source of wisdom.”
Variant: See Chin Stroking and Finger Moving Up The Chin.
Cue In Action: As the lecture dragged on, the student’s head collapsed more and more into her palm. At first just her fingers touched her chin as the topic interested her. As the course dragged on, her fingers flattened and her chin fell into her palm. By the end of the lecture, she was slumped on her palm and it was carrying most of the weight.
Meaning and/or Motivation: Hand on the chin Indicates evaluation or that negative thoughts are being held, that boredom has set in, or that a person is tired.
The amount of weight supported by the hand outlines the meaning. The more weight that is held, the greater the lack of interest or boredom. For example, fingers supporting the chin shows more interest and less boredom than does a head that is pressed firmly into the hand. Where no weight is in the palm, hand-to-chin indicates evaluation.
Cue Cluster: To determine the intent of the message watch for associated cues. For boredom you will see slumping over, the palm will compress from the extra weight it is holding, the eyes will droop and close, or blink slowly and stare, the shoulders will keel over and the head and body my bob down due to momentarily falling asleep. When the hand only bears part of the weight indicating evaluation, watch for the finger tips to only be touching the chin, the head and body to be erect, titled at forty five degrees, eye contact to switch from direct to thinking, down or up and the body to lean forward.
Body Language Category: Attentive, Boredom, Buy signals, Indicators of disinterest (IOD), Undivided attention (nonverbal).
Resources:
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