History Main / GottaGetYourHeadTogether

The head is where the brain is, and the brain controls all conscious and unconscious functions. So when there's some external, intangible assault on the brain, cranium or ears, it's only natural to seek to protect the head. this is the resulting trope, most frequently seen in comics, sci-fi, games, and animation.

Variations on the headclutch include huddling into a ball on the floor, falling to the knees, or doubling over as if attempting to shake off the intruding influence.

This pose, often seen in tandem with TheScream, can also be encountered in situations where a powered character is reaching the upper limit of their concentration and ability; which makes this trope a relative of the PstandardPsychicPstance. It often precedes YourHeadASplode.

* In the 1990s Fox animated ''WesternAnimation/XMen'', young Charles exhibited the head clutch when his powers began kicking in.

* In ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueCryForJustice'', when the heroes seek [[YouKeepUsingThatWord justice]].

* In ''Film/NighworldLostSouls'', Meghan launches a psychic attack on [[spoiler:Graham Scofield]] with the help of the ghosts. He screams and clutches his head before falling over and [[spoiler:cracking his head on a rock]].

* Constantly happening to and around [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity Tetsuo]] in ''Manga/{{Akira}}''. Apparently, [[PowerIncontinence being psychic really, really hurts]]. [[YourHeadASplode And you know what they say about misery...]]

* The first villain in ''ComicBook/XWingRogueSquadron: Requiem for a Rogue'' is confronted by a more powerful villain, who uses his blaster to burn off his own hand, telekinetically uses it to choke the first guy, then makes the first guy's head explode. Because [[ComplexityAddiction just shooting, choking, or head-exploding him would be too simple, apparently]], and {{Death Trap}}s aren't personal enough. There's a GoryDiscretionShot, and the first bad guy's silhouette is seen clutching its head before exploding.

* Vakama on the cover of ''ComicBook/{{Bionicle}} #21: Dreams of Darkness'', tortured by his nightmare-like visions.

* Ryouga from ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' does this every chance he gets, whether he's succumbing to despair, embarrassment, or simply [[NoSenseOfDirection has gotten lost yet again]]. It even became his "Lose" pose in the UsefulNotes/SuperFamicom fighting games.
* In ''Manga/SaintSeiya'', [[MusicalAssassin Siren Sorento]] is assaulting Siegfried's mind with the melody from his flute. Desperate to ward off the attack, Siegfried first covers his ears, then ruptures his own eardrums... but the sound still reaches directly into his brain, causing him to clutch his head in madness.

** I guess "Dark Harvest" counts too, although brains are just one of the multiple organs Zim was collecting to shove inside himself in case of an autopsy.

The head is where the brain is, and the brain controls all conscious and unconscious functions. So when there's some external, intangible assault on the brain, cranium or ears, it's only natural to seek to protect the head. GottaGetYourHeadTogether is the resulting trope, most frequently seen in comics, sci-fi, games, and animation.

* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'': Vegeta does this when Babidi is taking over his mind and amplifying the lingering evil within him.

* [[TheHero Dan]] from ''Anime/{{Bakugan}}'' grew fond of this trope during the first part of the fourth season due to constant MindRape from the BigBad.

* In a non-combat example ''Literature/TheHorseAndHisBoy'', Mr. Tumnus the Faun gets a sudden brilliant idea which might free the party from their current predicament and poses, as a person who didn't know him describes it, "holding his horns as if he was trying to keep his head on by them."

* The villain Twice from ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' does this sometimes when the [[HearingVoices voices in his head]] keep contradicting his thoughts, he needs to wear a mask that completely covers his head in order to "stay whole".

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Professor Menace clutches his head with both hands and yells when the Wonder Woman robot he's been controlling mentally is shorted out with electricity by Wonder Woman.

* Vegeta does this in ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' when Babidi is taking over his mind and amplifying the lingering evil within him.

* In ''Manga/SaintSeiya'', MusicalAssassin Siren Sorento is assaulting God Warrior Siegfried's mind with the melody from his flute. Desperate to ward off the attack, Siegfried first covers his ears, then ruptures his own eardrums... but the sound still reaches directly into his brain, causing him to clutch his head in madness.

* Gaara from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' did this quite a few times during the chuunin exams because the One-Tailed Demon inside him was rearing its ugly head from the sight of all the fighting and blood being spilled.

* ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'': Susan Storm-Richards tends to do this when she's pushing her force field power to its upper limit.
* ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'':
** In ''[[ComicBook/Supergirl1982 a classic issue]]'', an amnesiac Supergirl's clone does this when the titular heroine reveals her true nature.

* Franchise/{{Superman}}:

** In ''ComicBook/KryptonNoMore'' Franchise/{{Superman}} does this twice: when Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} tells him that they are Earth-born human mutants and later when the light of an orange star blinds him in the middle of a battle.

** Likewise a stock gesture in ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', along with a milder variant that basically looks like someone shaking their head to stay awake. Generally this is accompanied by GlowingEyes or a BattleAura that is colored depending on the type of Force effect.

* The first villain in ''ComicBook/XWingSeries: Requiem for a Rogue'' is confronted by a more powerful villain, who uses his blaster to burn off his own hand, telekinetically uses it to choke the first guy, then makes the first guy's head explode. Because [[ComplexityAddiction just shooting, choking, or head-exploding him would be too simple, apparently]], and {{Death Trap}}s aren't personal enough. There's a GoryDiscretionShot, and the first bad guy's silhouette is seen clutching its head before exploding.

If a mind control power is used, the character(s) attempting to resist it will clutch their heads, usually in pain.

* Asuka does this in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' when she gets {{Mind Rape}}d by the Angel Arael.

* Franchise/HarryPotter does this a lot throughout the series because of the scar that connects he and Voldemort. In ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows The Deathly Hallows]]'' specifically, he would clutch at his forehead in an attempt to resist the visions that came whenever Voldemort was at his most powerful, so as to stay within the present.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'':

* In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', head clutching is a [[StockMotions Stock Motion]], which also gets used when someone is afflicted with the Fear/Panic/Insanity line of offensive Force abilities.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

-->-- '''David Foster Wallace''',''Getting Away from Already Being Pretty Much Away from It All''

If a mind control power is used, the character(s) attempting to resist it will clutch their heads, usually in pain

* Ryouga from ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' does this every chance he gets, whether he's succumbing to despair, embarrassment, or simply [[NoSenseOfDirection has gotten lost yet again]]. It even became his "Lose" pose in the [[SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom fighting games]].

* Almost anyone in the MarvelUniverse being attacked by a psi will do this.

* ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'':
** In ''[[Comicbook/{{Supergirl 1982}} a classic issue]]'', an amnesiac Supergirl's clone does this when the titular heroine reveals her true nature.

** ''Comicbook/WarWorld'': Mongul clutches his head when Warworld's control helmet nearly fries his brain.
** In ''Comicbook/KryptonNoMore'' Franchise/{{Superman}} does this twice: when Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} tells him that they are Earth-born human mutants and later when the light of an orange star blinds him in the middle of a battle.

* In ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueCryForJustice'', when the heroes seek [[YouKeepUsingThatWord justice]]. ''[[http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/571164.html?#cutid1 Welcome to pain!]]''

* In ''SaintSeiya'', MusicalAssassin Siren Sorento is assaulting God Warrior Siegfried's mind with the melody from his flute. Desperate to ward off the attack, Siegfried first covers his ears, then ruptures his own eardrums... but the sound still reaches directly into his brain, causing him to clutch his head in madness.