Body Language of Eyebrow Lowering
Cue: Eyebrow Lowering
Synonym(s): Lowering The Eyebrows, Anger Eyebrows.
Description: Eyebrows that are lowered.
In One Sentence: Lowering the eyebrows signals anger, aggression, or fear.
How To Use it: Lower the eyebrows to tell others that you disapprove of their conduct and wish for them to correct it. Likewise you may lower your brows to show that you are experiencing an internal struggle. Overall, the cue can be useful when trying to manipulate other people into changing their behaviour.
The anger expression has been shown to be a signal of strength and helps reinforce dominance so it is useful in creating the impression of authority. Even if one lacks the physical power to back up aggression, the anger expression can still be used to create the illusion of force. Lowering the eyebrows should be used whenever you wish to be taken seriously and want that seriousness to be backed up by visible threat.
Avoid keeping the eyebrows lowered for too long, however, as this will be perceived as being weakness and dejection.
Context: General.
Verbal Translation: “I’m angry and my face is squishing all up including my eyebrows.”
Variant: N/A
Cue In Action: When she saw the girl who posted rude remarks on her online profile, she lowered her eyebrows to show her anger.
Meaning and/or Motivation: Eyebrows can squint just like eyes can and have many different meanings. Eyebrows can be lowered to indicate confrontation due to anger or aggression, fear from threats, when we feel displeasure or are annoyed.
If eyebrows are dropped low enough and kept there it indicates weakness and insecurity. This is true universally and so can even appear in children especially those who are abused. Lowered eyebrows is submissive, cowering, facial expression. Lowered eyebrows is a sign of being defeated and weak. It shows that one is unlikely to put up a fight. Bullies at school will also look for the expression to single out children as prey and so will social predators and psychopaths.
Cue Cluster: Varied depending on context.
Body Language Category: Amplifier, Aggressive body language, Anger, Closed facial gestures, Dislike (nonverbal), Dominant body language, Emotional body language, Eye Language, Fearful body language, Frustration or frustrated body language, Hostile body language, Negative body language, Threat displays.
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