Body Language of Self-Slapping
Cue: Self-Slapping.
Synonym(s): Slapping The Self, Hand To The Forehead Slap, Forehead Slap.
Description: When the open palm is quickly slapped against the self, usually the forehead or thigh.
In One Sentence: Self-slapping indicates that one is punishing themselves for not recalling something quickly enough (but that they finally have).
How To Use it: Self-slapping is a playful way to point out to others that you feel you should recall important details quicker. Self-slapping is a form of self-punishing as one inflicts a small amount of pain. This tells others that they don’t need to give you any extra grief and that you understand your mistake.
The cue also tells others that you have forgotten something important, and that there may be a crisis that they can help you resolve. Thus, self-slapping can signal the desire for sympathy and assistance.
Context: General.
Verbal Translation: “Oh darn, I really messed that up by not thinking that through, but you don’t need to punish me, I’ll do it myself.”
Variant: See Neck Rubbing (back of neck) or Holding The Back Of The Neck.
Cue In Action: Something didn’t feel right. Mary knew she had forgotten something, but what? She looked around the room and couldn’t put her finger on it. What had she forgotten to do? What was it? Just then, her hand came up and slapped her forehead. She had forgotten to pick up the dry cleaning on her way home from work!
Meaning and/or Motivation: A self slap to the forehead implies that a person realizes they’ve made a mistake and is admonishing themselves for it. Thus, it is a form of self-punishment and meant to indicate to others that they have had a momentary lapse of judgment. It is an attempt to prove to others that they aren’t as stupid as the mistake would indicate and that it won’t happen again.
A slap to the thigh usually indicates that a person has had an important thought or has remembered something that had slipped their mind. In this case, they will slap their thigh with open palm and then proceed to vocalize their recalled thought.
A hand slapping the back of the neck indicates that they feel someone else is being a pain (See Neck Rubbing).
Cue Cluster: The self-slap is usually accompanied by open or surprised facial expressions, eye widening, and eyebrows up. People who self-slap may also take in a breath so as to prepare to speak or leave their mouth open as if exasperated by their mistake.
Body Language Category: Auto contact or self-touching, Automatic gesture, Frustration or frustrated body language, Leaked or involuntary body language, Surprised body language.
Resources:
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