Want to Make Friends? Nod Your Head

Nodding is perceived as a positive response. Shaking one's head signals disagreement, while nodding is understood as body language expressing “yes.” Although it does not mean abandoning one's own views, the “act of nodding” conveys that the speaker's opinion is also being considered positively. Nodding also reflects an attitude of “attentive listening.” As a result, people find it easier to initiate conversation and feel more comfortable talking.

People often smile slightly and sometimes try to smile more broadly to express happiness and interest. But a “smile” is not the only way to make a favorable impression. Teren Pearlman wrote in an article, “In one experiment, participants viewed a group of computer-generated women who were nodding, shaking their heads, or remaining still. The results showed that the nodding women were preferred about 30% more, and participants reported finding them more than 40% friendlier.”

However, the study's lead author, Jun-ichiro Kawahara, said, “This is only the beginning of research into nodding as body language interpreted as sociable behavior.” He added, “To apply this phenomenon to real-life situations, studies would need to include male figures, real faces, and observers from different cultural backgrounds.”