# Do you scratch the back of your neck while thinking? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, movies\ **Created:** [January 9, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-scratch-the-back-of-your-neck-while-thinking/1012765 "2025-01-09T17:17:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-scratch-the-back-of-your-neck-while-thinking/1012765/1 "2025-01-09T17:17:02Z")
It’s a staple of movies and TV - I just saw it again on TV last night. [Hank Hill](https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fill-tell-you-what-hank-could-be-so-naive-at-times-v0-0c61lvmavjeb1.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1080%26crop%3Dsmart%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Da8596326519da27d00a7af7afeaab77824e998c6) and Peter (Family Guy) do it. But I’m not sure I’ve seen it in real life, and I don’t think I’ve ever done it. But googling turns up: _“Scratching the back of your neck while thinking is often interpreted as a sign of stress, uncertainty, or discomfort while processing information; it’s a common body language cue that can indicate someone is deep in thought, trying to recall details, or feeling slightly anxious about a situation.”_ Do you do it, or know someone who does? Mods, please move if not in correct forum ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-scratch-the-back-of-your-neck-while-thinking/1012765/2 "2025-01-09T17:32:38Z")
Never. Not once. It’s only a TV and Movie thing as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-scratch-the-back-of-your-neck-while-thinking/1012765/3 "2025-01-09T17:36:24Z")
My go-to tic is stroking my beard absentmindedly when I’m lost in thought. It’s the one thing I miss whenever I decide to shave it off and go bare-faced again. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-scratch-the-back-of-your-neck-while-thinking/1012765/4 "2025-01-09T17:42:05Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Do you do it, or know someone who does? I don’t scratch my neck when thinking but I sometimes tug on my ear when I’m trying to cultivate inspiration. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-scratch-the-back-of-your-neck-while-thinking/1012765/5 "2025-01-09T18:12:16Z")
Back of my neck, no. Back of my _head,_ yes. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-scratch-the-back-of-your-neck-while-thinking/1012765/6 "2025-01-09T18:16:32Z")
I twirl particular strand of hair. My Daddy did the back of neck thing. Usually because he was determining whether there was a problem with a decision he made. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-scratch-the-back-of-your-neck-while-thinking/1012765/7 "2025-01-09T18:36:24Z")
My only tic of the sort being discussed. (And 10-4 on the shaving issue!) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-scratch-the-back-of-your-neck-while-thinking/1012765/8 "2025-01-09T18:59:39Z")
Yes, but more frequently I scratch the top of my head, and still more frequently, I cup my chin with my hard. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-scratch-the-back-of-your-neck-while-thinking/1012765/9 "2025-01-09T19:09:30Z")
People do scratch the back of their heads; sweat collects there and causing minor itching which feels good to scratch. Easing an annoyance may be conducive to thinking. Even if there is no active itching, most people like having their heads/hair stroked. The chin acts the same way. Bringing a hand to the chin feels natural; no extra bending or stretching the limb needed. Beards are right there and like the attention. They’re like puppies. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-scratch-the-back-of-your-neck-while-thinking/1012765/10 "2025-01-09T19:11:49Z")
> [@solost](#): > > My go-to tic is stroking my beard absentmindedly when I’m lost in thought. It’s the one thing I miss whenever I decide to shave it off and go bare-faced again. Same here. I actually found it funny where after being clean-shaven most of my life I let my beard grow and almost immediately found myself absentmindedly stroking it in thought like I’d done it my whole life.