Body Language of The Head Touch (by others)
Cue: Head Touch (by others)
Synonym(s): Touching Someone’s Head, Hair Ruffle, Kissing The Head.
Description: When one person touches the head of another person.
In One Sentence: Touching the head of another is a sign of dominance.
How To Use it: Touch the head of others when you believe that you have a strong bond with them and want to maintain or solidify this relationship. Never touch the head of a person you feel does not trust you as this will produce suspicion or even contempt. Intimate couples can, and should, freely touch each other and part of this involves touching and stroking areas of the face and head. A dad can playfully ruffle his son’s hair to show that they are bonded together. It is also an expression of the father’s dominance over the son.
Context: General.
Verbal Translation: “I am more dominant than you permitting me to touch your vulnerable head. You heed my dominance and are willing to trust that I will not harm you.”
Variant: The hair might be ruffled, the head patted, or the head kissed. See Guiding Body Language.
Cue In Action: a) After returning form work, he found his son playing quietly with a video game. He snuck up behind and kissed him on the head and ruffled his hair to show his affection. b) The Pope made the sign of the cross on her forehead. c) After a long day at work, he massaged her head to show affection. d) After scoring a goal, the hockey players patted each other on top of their head.
Meaning and/or Motivation: The head is a very personal and vulnerable area of the body. Allowing others to touch the head is reserved for close relatives and intimate partners. Thus, head touching is a sign of a deep bond and trust between two people.
A Dad might ruffle his son’s hair or a wife might massage her husbands head to demonstrate affection. Kissing the head is a way a mom shows her daughter that she cares and is willing to protect her.
A subordinate employee would never touch the head of his boss but leaders of religious organizations will frequently touch the heads of their congregation.
Cue Cluster: The head touch is a cue that does not require additional cues for support.
Body Language Category: Friendship touching or friendly touching, Intimate touching, Open body language, Ownership gesture, Rapport or rapport building, Readiness to submit postures, Submissive body language.
Resources:
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Fisher, J; Rytting, M and Heslin, R. 1976. Hands touching hands: affective and evaluative effects on interpersonal touch, Sociometry 39: 416–421.
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http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/a-touching-way-to-encourage/
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Lee Ann Renninger, T. Joel Wade, Karl Grammer. Getting that female glance: Patterns and consequences of male nonverbal behavior in courtship contexts. Evolution and Human Behavior. 2004; 25: 416–431.
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Madden, Myron. Meaningful pastoral intimacy. Pastoral Psychology. 1976. 25(1): 34-38.
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Maclaren, Kym. Touching matters: Embodiments of intimacy. Emotion, Space and Society. 2014. 13: 95-102.
Peck, J., & Shu, S. B. (2009). The effect of mere touch on perceived ownership. Journal of Consumer Research, 36(Oct), 434–447.
Paulsell, Shari ; Goldman, Morton. The Effect of Touching Different Body Areas on Prosocial Behavior. The Journal of Social Psychology. 1984. 122(2): 269-273.
Remland, Martins. ; Jones, Tricias. ; Brinkman, Heidi. Interpersonal Distance, Body Orientation, and Touch: Effects of Culture, Gender, and Age. The Journal of Social Psychology. 1995 135(3): 281-297.
Tracy, R. L., & Ainsworth, M. D. S. (1981). Maternal affectionate behavior and infant-mother attachment patterns. Child Development, 52, 1341-1343.
Takeuchi, Mika ; Miyaoka, Hitoshi ; Tomoda, Atsuko ; Suzuki, Masao ; Liu, Qingbo ; Kitamura, Toshinori. The Effect of Interpersonal Touch During Childhood on Adult Attachment and Depression: A Neglected Area of Family and Developmental Psychology? Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2010. 19(1): 109-117.
Toronto, Ellen L.K. A clinician’s response to physical touch in the psychoanalytic setting. International Journal of Psychotherapy. 2002 7(1): 69-81.
Willis, Frank N. , Jr. ; Dodds, Rebecca A. Age, relationship, and touch initiation. The Journal of Social Psychology. 1998. 138(1). 115(9).