Body Language of Head On
Cue: Head On.
Synonym(s): Head Level.
Description: When the head is vertically upright. It is neither tilted left, right, back or down.
In One Sentence: Having the head upright, neither tilted left nor right, is a passive listening head orientation.
How To Use it: Use the head on listening position to show others that you are paying attention, but unlike when the head is tilted, you aren’t particularly interested. This head orientation is useful for when you want to show others that you are taking in what is being said, but that what is being said is not exactly peaking your curiosity.
Context: General.
Verbal Translation: “I’m listening to what you are saying but I’m not particularly interested nor am I particularly disinterested. In fact, I’m just passively listening.”
Variant: See Head Tilted or Head Cocked To The Side.
Cue In Action: The speaker looked out at the crowd and saw a mixture of heads cocked to the side and some head on, so he knew only half of his audience was engaged.
Meaning and/or Motivation: The head straight on and level indicates passive listening.
The cue signals neither active listening such as when tilted at forty five degrees nor submission, contempt or scorn (down), nor dominance, superiority, haughty (up). The cue means that a person is listening to what’s being said, but that they aren’t particularly interested or disinterested.
Cue Cluster: The eyes are sometimes focused, sometimes unfocused. The head might bob up and down if trying to maintain concentration, the body might be slightly slumped but still engaged.
Body Language Category: Attentive, Open body language.
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