ABSTRACT
Have you ever been to a party where you were faced with that person who just prattled on and on and you found yourself repeatedly nodding? Repetitive head nods are reacted to as negative within aggression as they are interpreted as a signal of not listening, or of wanting to be elsewhere. However, occasional head nods are perceived as active listening within many cultures, especially when reinforced with appropriate verbal comments or affirmations. Be careful of a side head tilt which can be reacted to as a ‘victim’ signal. Conversely an almost imperceptible tilt of the head to the side is often used to signal aggression (see also ‘Potential sexual signals’ p. 84).
