Body language

The Chin

The Chin

Baby, round, squared, sagging, strong, dimpled, cute, or scarred: chins come in many varieties and shapes. They protect our face, and if need be our neck, but they also communicate our sentiments, whether pride or shame. We say "chin up" when others are down, and soldiers proudly salute the flag with their chins angled high. The chin, in short, can speak volumes about our internal state, whether we are confident, frightened, troubled, or emotionally overcome.

82. CHIN UP-When the chin is out and up it communicates confidence- thus the saying "chin up." In certain European cultures (German, French, Russian, and Italian, among others) the chin is generally raised higher than to signify confidence, pride, and in certain cases, arrogance.

83. CHIN POINTING DOWN-If the chin suddenly points downward in response to a question, most likely the person lacks confidence or feels threatened. In some people, this is a highly reliable tell; they literally drop their chin when they get bad news or as they think about something painful or negative.

84. IN WITHDRAWING-When we are worried or anxious, we instinctively move our chin as close to the neck as possible-nature's way of protecting our vitals. This is an excellent indicator of insecurity, doubt, even fear. If you see this behavior after asking someone a question, there are serious unresolved issues. When children are questioned about something they should not have done, the chin often comes down,showing contriteness. Many adults respond the same way.

85. CHIN HIDING-This is generally employed by children to hide their embarrassment, show their displeasure toward others, or demonstrate that they are upset. They tuck their chin down, often crossing their arms at the same time and then refuse to lift their chin up. In adults, chin hiding is seen between males, standing face-to-face, angry or yelling at each other. In this case it serves to protect the neck in the event of a violent confrontation.

86. CHIN DROP WITH SHOULDERS SLUMPING-This is another behavior familiar to parents-when children lower or try to hide their chin with the shoulders slumped, effectively saying "I don't want to." If the arms are also crossed, then the child definitely does not want to.

87. CHIN TOUCHING -We touch our chins when we are thinking or evaluating something. This is usually done with the tips of the fingers. It is not necessarily a sign of doubt but is something to note when a person is processing information. When coupled with other behaviors, such as lip pursing, it suggests that the person is contemplating something negative, or an alternative to what has been discussed.

88. CHIN BRUSHING WITH BACK OF HAND-In many cultures this signifies that a person has doubts about what is being said. This may also be coupled with lip pursing. It can be performed side to side or from back to front of the chin.

89. CHIN CRADLING-Placing one's chin on the palm of the hand, coupled with relaxation of the facial muscles, suggests boredom. But in a law enforcement context, it might signal a range of possibilities, depending on the circumstances. In a forensic setting, I have seen the guilty strike this pose while sitting in a room alone as a form of perception management, to make authorities think they are so innocent, they are practically bored.

90. ANGRY CHIN PERCHING This chin perch is performed by placing the chin on the knuckles of the fists, while the elbows are wide and resting on a table as the person stares into the distance or at a computer screen. Usually the forehead is furrowed or the eyes are narrowed or squinting, as a result of something difficult they are pondering or momentary anger. When you see someone posed like this, it is wise to not interrupt.

91. CHIN SHIFTING -Moving the chin left to right against the palm of the hand is a subconscious conveyance of disagreement. I have seen people sitting around a conference room table show their silent displeasure by shifting their chin while resting on the palm of their hand.

92. BEARD/MUSTACHE STROKING -Stroking a mustache or a beard can be highly effective for pacifying stress. As with any repetitive behavior, ignore it if you see it too often, as some people with facial hair do this compulsively. If you see it occur suddenly for the first time or it increases after a topic is mentioned, perhaps the person has an issue. Cultural context must also be taken into account; for instance, beard stroking is common among many men from the Middle East as they pass the time talking. Note that many men with beards find it soothing to stroke their beards as they pass the time of day.

93. CHIN DIMPLING -When people are stressed, experiencing emotional turmoil, or about to cry, their chin will dimple. This is true for even the most stoic of individuals.

94. CHIN-MUSCLE QUIVERING The sudden quivering of chin muscles indicates fear, concern, anxiety, or apprehension. People who are about to cry will also do this. The mentalis muscle, which covers the chin and causes the skin to quiver, is one of the that most reflects our emotions, according to Dr. David Givens. Sometimes the chin will reflect emotional turmoil even before the eyes.

95. CHIN TO SHOULDER -We often see this with people who are embarrassed or emotionally vulnerable. They will, in a very childlike manner, place their chin against one shoulder, looking demure. You should especially note when someone does this while answering a question. It usually means the person has great difficulty discussing a subject, perhaps because she possesses knowledge she does not wish to reveal.

96. CHIN POINTING-In many cultures, people will point in a direction with their chin, extending it forward as they stretch their neck. This replaces pointing with a finger, and is seen throughout the Caribbean, in Latin America, in parts of Spain, and in the Middle East, as well as on many Native American reservations.