The Secrete Meaning Behind The Forehead Bow Body Language
Cue: Forehead Bow (The)
Synonym(s): Come-Hither-Look, Downward Titled Head With Upcast Eyes, Looking Up Through The Forehead or The Looking-Up Cluster, Dipping The Head, Looking Up Cluster, Head Down With Eyes Up.
Description: The forehead bow is a posture done by artificially lowering the head, then looking up from under the eyebrows. It is often coupled with a titling of the head at forty-five degrees to the side and when done by women in a dating context, batting the eyelashes.
In One Sentence: The forehead bow signals the desire to submit in a coy fashion.
How To Use it: The forehead bow is effective when trying to play submissive in order to gain extra favours. Children can use this effectively to gain special permission, as can women whom are trying to manipulate men. In dating, eyes cast upward makes women look childlike and this can be arousing due to its submissive origin. Cast the eyes upward whenever you wish to gain special treatment and sympathy from others. However, the cue is far less effective when done by men as compared to women and children. In other words, the cue, requires a sympathetic audience to gain any traction.
Context: a) General b) Dating.
Verbal Translation: “I’m weak and vulnerable, pleading, just watch how I look coyly and submissively up at you from my lowered position with big eyes. I need your sympathy, care, attention, permission and assistance – can you please help and care for me.”
Variant: See Sideways Glance Over Raised Shoulder.
Cue In Action: a) His daughter wanted a new pony so she stuck out her lip, cast her eyes up pleading, batted her eyes and tilted her head to the side. How could a Dad refuse? b) She wanted a new BMW so she stuck out her lip, cast her eyes up pleading, batted her eyes and tilted her head to the side. How could her husband refuse?
Meaning and/or Motivation: The forehead bow is a posture done by artificially lowering the head, then looking up under the eyebrows in a “come hither” fashion. It has roots in the bow (greeting gesture) since it exposes the top of the head making it vulnerable to attack.
Just like neck and wrist displays, it indicates that trust is present. It also comes off as a childlike gesture primarily because children are shorter than adults and habitually peer up at them.
The posture is a reflection back into early childhood as children look up at us seeking our approval or permission. It is designed to appear vulnerable and pleading. As we age, we recall these gestures and go back to them when wish to revive juvenile submissive feelings and evoke protective feelings in others. The opposite to the forehead bow happens by tilting the head back and looking down one’s nose at someone, which is a judgment posture and is seen negatively.
The forehead bow is a submissive posture and can be done by anyone but is especially prevalent during courtship. When done by women towards men it is a “come hither” look and when done by children shows shyness and submission. Either way, it is a submissive posture aimed at gaining sympathy, protection and favours from others.
Cue Cluster: It is often coupled with a titling of the head at forty-five degrees to the side and when done by women, batting the eyes.
Body Language Category: Body size reduction, Courtship displays, Eye Language, Indicators of sexual interest (IOsI), Pseudo-infantile gestures, Power play, Remotivating, Submissive body language.
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