Uploaded January 2017 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
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Head gestures
Like I said in an earlier lesson about the limbic system, you have to remember that this part of our brain is the one that is in charge of our survival.
And if you consider that the brain is in the head, then it makes sense that when you have a character protecting the head… then, it means you are showing a character trying to survive.
And if you see a character sticking out his head, then it means that he feels dominant over his environment or situation.
Aggression
Take any aggressive behavior. Almost all aggressive behaviors have the face sticking out. This means the character feels dominant and is trying to get what he wants, or what she wants, by any means necessary. And that involves forcing the other characters to do his or her will.
The Chin
Now let’s talk about the chin. Of course you can have the character look up or look down, or to the sides. Every character has to turn the head to different places when looking for something, right?
But I’m talking about having the head turned to one side and having the eye direction to another.
Chin Up
Like having the chin pointing a bit upwards.
This can be used in a dominance stance. You see this behavior on alpha characters. This shows a lot of strong personality. It means that the character is confident.
It’s a way of looking down on the other characters.
But there is also another reason why you could choose to have a character perform a Chin Up. This can be used as a defensive pose.
And because it’s a dominance behavior, it can mean that the character is not believing what it’s being said. Or that he disagrees or disapproves.
Maybe Alice told him that he was not invited to a party… Ugh… He could do a chin up, and then say:
(Trying to be friendly) “Oh really? And why is that?"
You can clearly see that he is not very happy about it. Even though he is trying to sound “ok”.
And both of this chin up gestures should not be confused with the character having the head tilted up with the eye direction looking up. Which could mean that the character is trying to find some answers to the current situation or problem.
Chin down
So. We have the chin up. Let’s talk about the chin down.
Remember that the limbic system is trying to ensure our survival? Well, then consider the 2 vital parts of our body: the brain, AND. The heart. Which is located in the chest.
So if your character pulls her chin down, it means that her emotional center is trying to protect the chest.
You see this clearly on this little girl. Maybe her mom is scolding her because she did something she shouldn’t have.
Head tilted to the side
Now let’s talk about what it could mean if she tilts the head to one side.
You could consider 2 reasons: When the character is using their brain to think. Or when they are trying to be friendlier.
In either case, tilting the head to the side means the character is trying to find a new perspective. That’s why he or she is tilting his or her head.
Tilted to Think
It’s used to have the neocortex brain working at full potential. To make decisions. To consider a proposal. To understand a problem.
In any of those three cases, the head is tilted to help the neocortex or thinking brain to see the world with another perspective, to think better.
And if you add a hand gesture scratching the head, it means that even the hand is pushing the head to come up with ideas faster.
The character is not aware of all of this, it’s the limbic system who is pushing the character to work with the thinking brain at its full potential.
Being friendly
And the other reason to tilt the head, is to be friendlier, or more persuasive.
If you see a woman talking to you with a straight head, then she is just having a normal conversation. But if she tilts her head, then you know her limbic system is trying to come across as more friendly.
This could be a tactic to persuade you to buy her something.
Imagine the typical “Pleeeeaaaaseeeee?” That Disney characters do. They have to tilt their head to make the proposal sound friendlier.
Wrapping up
Good. We covered a couple of useful gestures here.
Coming up next
Now in the next lesson we will talk about hand gestures, and how they are used to express what we feel. See you on the next lesson.
MORE FREE LESSONS AVAILABLE at tr4ckit.com/1iwq
Head gestures
Like I said in an earlier lesson about the limbic system, you have to remember that this part of our brain is the one that is in charge of our survival.
And if you consider that the brain is in the head, then it makes sense that when you have a character protecting the head… then, it means you are showing a character trying to survive.
And if you see a character sticking out his head, then it means that he feels dominant over his environment or situation.
Aggression
Take any aggressive behavior. Almost all aggressive behaviors have the face sticking out. This means the character feels dominant and is trying to get what he wants, or what she wants, by any means necessary. And that involves forcing the other characters to do his or her will.
The Chin
Now let’s talk about the chin. Of course you can have the character look up or look down, or to the sides. Every character has to turn the head to different places when looking for something, right?
But I’m talking about having the head turned to one side and having the eye direction to another.
Chin Up
Like having the chin pointing a bit upwards.
This can be used in a dominance stance. You see this behavior on alpha characters. This shows a lot of strong personality. It means that the character is confident.
It’s a way of looking down on the other characters.
But there is also another reason why you could choose to have a character perform a Chin Up. This can be used as a defensive pose.
And because it’s a dominance behavior, it can mean that the character is not believing what it’s being said. Or that he disagrees or disapproves.
Maybe Alice told him that he was not invited to a party… Ugh… He could do a chin up, and then say:
(Trying to be friendly) “Oh really? And why is that?"
You can clearly see that he is not very happy about it. Even though he is trying to sound “ok”.
And both of this chin up gestures should not be confused with the character having the head tilted up with the eye direction looking up. Which could mean that the character is trying to find some answers to the current situation or problem.
Chin down
So. We have the chin up. Let’s talk about the chin down.
Remember that the limbic system is trying to ensure our survival? Well, then consider the 2 vital parts of our body: the brain, AND. The heart. Which is located in the chest.
So if your character pulls her chin down, it means that her emotional center is trying to protect the chest.
You see this clearly on this little girl. Maybe her mom is scolding her because she did something she shouldn’t have.
Head tilted to the side
Now let’s talk about what it could mean if she tilts the head to one side.
You could consider 2 reasons: When the character is using their brain to think. Or when they are trying to be friendlier.
In either case, tilting the head to the side means the character is trying to find a new perspective. That’s why he or she is tilting his or her head.
Tilted to Think
It’s used to have the neocortex brain working at full potential. To make decisions. To consider a proposal. To understand a problem.
In any of those three cases, the head is tilted to help the neocortex or thinking brain to see the world with another perspective, to think better.
And if you add a hand gesture scratching the head, it means that even the hand is pushing the head to come up with ideas faster.
The character is not aware of all of this, it’s the limbic system who is pushing the character to work with the thinking brain at its full potential.
Being friendly
And the other reason to tilt the head, is to be friendlier, or more persuasive.
If you see a woman talking to you with a straight head, then she is just having a normal conversation. But if she tilts her head, then you know her limbic system is trying to come across as more friendly.
This could be a tactic to persuade you to buy her something.
Imagine the typical “Pleeeeaaaaseeeee?” That Disney characters do. They have to tilt their head to make the proposal sound friendlier.
Wrapping up
Good. We covered a couple of useful gestures here.
Coming up next
Now in the next lesson we will talk about hand gestures, and how they are used to express what we feel. See you on the next lesson.
