History Main / AffectionateGestureToTheHead

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': [[Characters/GravityFallsGrunkleStan Grunkle Stan]] will occasionally give some "affectionate noogie-ing" to his great nephew and niece Dipper and Mabel.

* A standard gesture of affection among WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}, the equivalent of kissing.

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'': Harry is usually subjected to this by Wanda, his godmother and [[ParentalSubstitute mother-substitute]], who takes to carding her fingers through his perpetually messy hair.

** ''Fanfic/TheSeasonsMyReason'': Bruno ruffles [[Anime/DeliciousPartyPrettyCure Yui]]'s hair to encourage her on her quest.
* ''Fanfic/SeraphinasTeaQuest'': When they meet each other, [[Series/BearInTheBigBlueHouse Bear]] pets a baby [[Fanfic/KedaborysMuppetMania Chef Clara]]'s head.

[[quoteright:350:[[Manga/MyCompanysSmallSenpai https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/smallsenpai.png]]]]

!!Example subpages

!!Other examples:

* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade'', Thea upsets Shanna by criticizing her recklessness. She tries to imitate their big sister Juno by patting her on the head -- only Thea is an AloofBigSister, so Shanna goes from being upset to weirded out. (She does say she appreciates the effort in their next support conversation.)
** Also in ''The Binding Blade'', [[PerpetualFrowner Chad]] breaks out laughing at Hugh's dramatics about being called "mister". Hugh is surprised that he ''can'' laugh, since he's seen so many kids lose the ability to smile because of the war, but concludes that there's hope in the world as long as kids are laughing. He asks Chad to make sure to laugh once in a while before ruffling his hair. Given that Chad ends the support by thinking that there's still hope for the world as long as there are adults like Hugh, he doesn't seem to mind too much.

* In the ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'' games, Sara likes doing this to Fie, who puts up with it but tells Sara how annoying she finds it. Laura's father also does this to her when they see each other again for the first time in months. Laura is more embarrassed that the gesture is seen by her classmates than by the gesture itself. Rean also has a tendency to do it to any girl he's close to (Alisa, Towa, and Elise are all on the receiving end, much to their collective frustration). Rean also does it to Altina in Cold Steel III. She's not amused the first time he does it, asking if he was thinking anything indecent when he did, but by the time of Cold Steel IV she's actually asking him to give her a headpat at the end of their link victory sequence.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': Waxer pats and rubs [[HeartwarmingOrphan Numa]]'s head to comfort her on several occasions.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': At the beginning of [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsS3E13TrialsOfTheDarksaber "Trials of the Darksaber"]], Sabine pets Chopper when he calls her to the meeting and he purrs like a cat in response.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': "Call All Titans": Jericho reaches down and pats an exhausted Beast Boy on the head after he climbs all the way to the top of the mountain to give Jericho a communicator.

* Fanfic/TheKedaboryVerse:
** ''Fanfic/GlitterForceIntoTheGlitterverse'': Glitterette pets [[Anime/HappinessChargePrettyCure Jewel]]'s hair when she agrees to find [[Anime/StarTwinklePrettyCure Hikaru]] and infect her with the Glitter Force.
** ''Fanfic/HushNowLittleOne'': [[WesternAnimation/{{Encanto}} Bruno]] pets [[WesternAnimation/TurningRed Tae-young]]'s hair to calm him down during a storm.
** ''Fanfic/TheSeasonsMyReason'': Bruno ruffles [[Anime/DeliciousPartyPrettyCure Yui]]'s hair to encourage her on her quest.

* In a certain comic based on ''ComicBook/ThePowerpuffGirls'', Buttercup gets annoyed with the Mayor's constant patting her on the head, to the point where she punches his lights out after repeatedly telling him to stop.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks'': In "Second Contact", Ensign Mariner ruffles Ensign Boimler's hair just after she introduces herself to Ensign Tendi.

This is mainly true of North America. In some Asian countries, this may be considered rude due to spiritual connotations, though in Japan, it may have [[ShipTease romantic implications]]. Many people, even in North America, also dislike the patronizing implications.

* During the "Obsidian Age" arc of ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'', ComicBook/MartianManhunter applies his fingers to Franchise/GreenLantern's head to try and find out why he's having visions of the League being slaughtered. Lantern jokes that in some of the alien cultures he's visited, this would make them married.

* During ''ComicBook/SupermanBrainiac'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} has a breakdown after seeing a ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} android. Franchise/{{Superman}} calms her down by hugging her and stroking her head.

[[AC:''Franchise/TheSimpsons'']]

This is mainly true of North America. In some Asian countries, this may be considered rude, due to spiritual connotations, though in Japan it may have romantic implications. Many people, even in North America, also dislike the patronizing implications.

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': Grunkle Stan will occasionally give some "affectionate noogie-ing" to his great nephew and niece Dipper and Mabel.

** In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E5GriffonTheBrushOff "Griffon the Brush Off"]], Pinkie Pie gives one to Fluttershy right before Gilda's party, and actually manages the very rare feat of annoying her.

** In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E7MayTheBestPetWin "May the Best Pet Win"]], Rainbow Dash gives a condescending pat on the head to Twilight Sparkle, when she asks if "coolness", "awesomeness" and "radicalness" aren't all the same thing.

** Twilight gets a few of these in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E25ACanterlotWeddingPart1 "A Canterlot Wedding"]].

* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': Done by Candace to Ferb in the final song sequence of "[[Recap/PhineasAndFerbSummerBelongsToYou Summer Belongs To You]]". And considering it's pretty much the ''only'' time so far that she's shown physical affection to her little stepbrother, it's nothing short of adorable.

** Shadow Weaver touches the face of someone when she is trying to manipulate them, or has just manipulated them. She has a habit of tucking in a strand of Adora's loose hair. In Season 2, she touches Catra's face when trying to get on Catra's good side. In a flashback, she touches Micah's face after a spell transforms her from Light Spinner into Shadow Weaver. In Season 4, [[spoiler:she tucks a rose behind Glimmer's ear and touches her face while telling her that she will be a greater monarch than either of her parents.]]
** In "Destiny, Part 2", [[spoiler:Horde Prime touches Hordak's face in a manner that appears affectionate, but the touch quickly turns into forceful facial groping as he invades Hordak's mind. After mind-wiping Hordak, Horde Prime touches Glimmer's face in a manner that feels predatory.]]

** Homer often [[PetTheDog does this to Bart]].

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': Garnet pats Steven fairly often, enough so that it is seen in the opening. While all the Gems are very affectionate towards Steven, it's especially noticeable due to Garnet's normally stoic demeanor.

* A variant appears in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'' - characters sometimes show affection to the leads by playfully pulling their hats down over their eyes, Mario doing it to Luigi during their introduction to show their brotherly bond, and Peach doing it to Mario - the both of them having some ShipTease with each other - much later.

* A variant appears in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'' - characters sometimes show affection to the leads by playfully pulling their hats down over their eyes, Mario doing it to Luigi during their introduction to show their brotherly bond, and Peach doing it to Mario - the both of them having some ShipTease - much later.

!!Examples:

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Manga/ChildrenOfTheWhales'': Rasha used to give Shuan headpats, and Shuan later picks up the habit with Chakuro.
%% * In ''VisualNovel/{{Clannad}}'', Tomoya pats Nagisa.
%%% Zero-context
* In ''Anime/DogDays'', this is a trademark of Princess Millhiore. Everyone she pets comments on how soft and gentle her hands are. Cinque also does it to her and a few other girls.
** By the second season, it seems the favorite peacetime activity for all three rulers is getting petted by their respective Heroes.
* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
** This is how Goku shows affection towards his sons and later his granddaughter in ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' and ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'', patting them on their heads.
** Young Gohan is patted on the head quite frequently; even by [[TheRival Vegeta]]. One particular moment that stands out was during a flashback when Piccolo does this to [[BeautifulDreamer a sleeping Gohan]] and promises that he won't let anything happen to him, cementing his HeelFaceTurn and PapaWolf status towards Gohan.
* ''Manga/GAGeijutsukaArtDesignClass'':
** Kisaragi gets patted from Noda and Tomokane after telling the story of how she came to buy a "god's pencil", then again from them plus Miyabi and Namiko after she explains that it "worked" (though it's pretty clear that practice was really what worked).
** In a chapter image, Namiko seems to be giving Tomokane and Kisaragi one of these as the younger four of the five seem to be engaged in a group hug.
* In ''Manga/ElfenLied'' when Kurama sends Nana to capture Lucy and bring her back to the lab this is all she asks for in return, because this was how he showed affection to her.
* In ''Anime/{{Free}}'' Rin Matsuoka, from [[TookALevelInKindness season 2 onwards]] generally comforts, compliments and shows affection towards his younger teammates and friends (namely Nagisa, Nitori and Momo) this way.
* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' Ed often pats Al and Winry's heads to reassure them.
* Grave in ''Anime/{{Gungrave}}'' often pats Mika's head. It's all [[TheQuietOne he]] needs to do to show that he cares for his little protege.
* ''Manga/HeavensLostProperty'':
** Ikaros pats others a lot, usually to soothe someone who is upset. One time, she even randomly did it to a {{Yakuza}} boss. The man's bodyguards are shocked by this violation of personal space and move to attack her, but the boss stops them and enjoys it.
** Astrea ends up patting Chaos' head.
* In Volume 8 of ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'', following his [[spoiler:final release and transformation into his original form of Dracula]], Alucard pats Seras Victoria after she awkwardly points out that he seems to have grown a mustache. It's the first affectionate thing he ever does towards her.
* ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'':
** In one episode, France affectionately ruffles America's hair during the latter's [[Really700YearsOld hundredth birthday]].
** A darker example is [[PsychopathicManchild Russia]] and Latvia; Russia is seemingly very fond of the [[TinySchoolboy much smaller]] Latvia, and likes to give him affectionate -- and [[AndCallHimGeorge very crushing, due to their huge difference in strength]] -- headpats. Latvia claims that the reason he's so small is because of them.
* ''Manga/HidamariSketch'':
** Yuno is patted by her mother because she was worried about her father being at home alone.
** Yuno gets one from Sae and Miyako at her explanation of Hiro's setting aside an ''onigiri''.
** Yuno gets one from Nori after telling her and Nazuna why she brought them to the bathhouse.
** Nazuna gets one from her father after her mother thanks her friends for helping her, and tells her she has it good.
* ''Manga/HitomiChanIsShyWithStrangers'': When Hitomi gets [[DrunkOnMilk "intoxicated" from an energy drink]], she gives Yuu an affectionate pat on the head at one point, which is a [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness far cry]] from how she usually interacts with him.
* In ''Anime/{{K}}: Return of Kings'', when Shiro is working hard on his research to find a solution to the issue of the second season, [[CatGirl Neko]] tells him she believes in him, and he gives her a pat on the head (because she's a cat). Then, Kuroh, the [[RedBaron "Black Dog"]] and Shiro's other teammate, tells Shiro the same thing and leans in for a split second [[ShipTease as if he wants a head-pat, too]].
* ''Manga/KOn'':
** Azusa is frequently patted against her will, even though it's what Yui used to calm her down when she blew up. But she does take it better when it's employed while they're reminding her that they haven't forgotten the club. (The others had been too involved in the play to practice for the concert.)
** One time, when Nodoka jokingly asks the Hirasawa sisters if they didn't come out in the wrong order (Yui needs help with a math problem that Ui knows how to solve after glancing at it while setting tea she made down, Yui and Ui briefly interact as though they were the other way around; this gesture is part of it.
** Nodoka pats Ui in the very next strip after being randomly hugged by her.
** In ''K-On! High School'', Azusa tries to reach ''kouhai'' Sumire's head, saying "Rub... head..." as she stretches for it. Sumire takes this as a request and confusedly rubs ''Azusa's'' head.
-->'''Azusa''': No, not me!
* ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'':
** Signum pats Fate on head in ''[[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAs A's]]'' when they change from being {{Worthy Opponent}}s to {{Friendly Rival|ry}}s.
** The movie adaptation of ''A's'' has this as part of the "Lindy adopting Fate" subplot by having scenes where both Lindy and [[LotusEaterMachine a dream copy of Precia]] attempt to comfort Fate by caressing her cheek. She enjoys the former but outright recoils in fear of the latter (since the real Preica was incredibly abusive). The scene with Precia also takes place in the series, but Lindy merely holds her hand instead.
** In something of a role-reversal, six-year-old Vivio gives her mother Nanoha a pat on the head to cheer her up during a flashback in ''[[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers StrikerS]]''. And it's adorable.
** Nanoha also pats [[TheKnightsWhoSaySquee Subaru]] on the head at the end of the first episode of ''[=StrikerS=]'', causing her to start shedding TearsOfJoy.
** Subaru does this to Ixpellia in ''AudioPlay/StrikersSoundStageX'' right before [[spoiler: Ixpellia falls into a sleep that could last for thousands of years.]]
* Usui often affectionately pats Misaki's head in ''Manga/MaidSama''.
* ''Manga/MissKobayashisDragonMaid'':
** Kobayashi normally shows affection to Tohru, Kanna, and Ilulu by petting them on the head. It's pretty much the only way that she knows how to express affection since she has admitted to having trouble dealing with interpersonal relationships.
** Taketo pats Ilulu's head after hearing why she's so adamant on finding the owner of an abandoned doll, and then again when she comes into work after having been out sick (she had actually gone into heat, but he didn't know that). The second time causes her to get a warm feeling in her chest, [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove though she doesn't recognize the significance]].
* ''Musashi-kun to Murayama-san wa Tsukiatte Mita.'' has an entire three-chapter arc devoted to Murayama trying to get Musashi to pat her head.
* Futaba from ''Manga/MySenpaiIsAnnoying'' is on the receiving end of head pats and hair ruffling from her larger coworker who she has feelings for. Her grandfather also has a tendency to pat her head and he takes issue with Takeda doing the same thing to her, mostly because he suspects Takeda is her boyfriend.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
** Itachi's brotherly gesture, the forehead poke, was ''affectionate'' by definition. Very dramatic, emotionally-eliciting gesture.
** Sasuke continues the tradition by patting [[spoiler:Sakura]] before he [[spoiler:left for his journey of atonement]] at the end of the manga. [[spoiler:Sakura]] later notes that she prefers it over [[spoiler:kissing Sasuke]].
** Sasuke patted [[spoiler:his own daughter]], [[spoiler:Sarada]], at the end of ''Manga/NarutoGaiden,'' despite [[spoiler:being absent from her life for long periods of time]]. [[spoiler:His wife Sakura had previously been shown to have shown Sarada the forehead poke when she was younger]].
** Kakashi has a habit of patting his students on the head.
* In one chapter of ''Manga/NoMatterHowILookAtItItsYouGuysFaultImNotPopular'', Tomoko tries to get an affectionate headpat after seeing it in an anime. She does various things to prompt guys at school to give her one to no avail, going so far as to trying to engineer an accidental one by sitting under the railing of a stairway. About the only headpat she ends up getting is from a cat she stops to feed at a park bench. [[spoiler:In Chapter 115, [[ThrowTheDogABone Tomoko gets a real headpat from a cute graduating upperclassman]] after she successfully pins a corsage on his uniform.]]
* Episode 5 of ''Anime/OhSuddenlyEgyptianGod'' has Ra giving every single one of his children headpats after returning home from his journey.
* Tsurezure of ''Manga/{{Ojojojo}}'' gave his girlfriend's sister a pat on the head after finding out that she's a BitchInSheepsClothing who's trying to break them up and take her sister's place as heiress (showing that he cares about her as Haru's sister despite all that).
* In ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesSunAndMoon'', Lusamine tousles her daughter Lillie's hair when they reunite. According to Lillie, she last saw her mother when she was a baby and is not thrilled with neither the gesture or her mother acting like she never left, and smoothes her hair down in a FunnyBackgroundEvent.
* In ''Manga/{{Saiyuki}}'', this is one of Sanzo's few outwardly affectionate gestures towards Goku.
* ''Manga/ScienceFellInLoveSoITriedToProveIt'': In the main characters' ongoing quest to define love with the scientific method, testing the effects of this is the main experiment of Episode 2, with Yukimura petting Himuro's head. It sets off Himuro's ExpressiveHair, prompting Yukimura to wonder what principle is allowing her hair to move independently. Due to Ibarada's suggesting that they need a control for the experiment, Yukimura pats hers and Kanade's heads and compare Yukimura's heart rates in each case.
* In the ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' anime when Shingen seems about to give a standard MegatonPunch to Yukimura but switches to patting and tousling his hair at the last second, telling him he's done well.
* Taishi of ''Manga/ServantXService'' occasionally pats younger women on their head out of unconscious habit, due to his sister.
* ''Manga/SkipBeat'' has Kyoko and Ren play the roles of the Heel siblings Setsuka and Cain, respectively. Cain tends to affectionately pat his little sister on the head or gently ruffle her hair, even using this as a form to communicate a compliment. Kyoko also receives one of the comforting variety from a director over someone having snapped at her, and she notes how different the two gestures felt.
* In ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'', Kotetsu often pats younger characters on the head as a sort of fatherly gesture.
* In ''Manga/WastefulDaysOfHighSchoolGirls'', [[DotingGrandparent Saku's grandmother]] gives her granddaughter headpets every night before going to bed.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'': Whether it's the one in Gaius Baltar's head or the genuine article, Caprica Six regularly caresses Baltar's hair and face. Even when Head Baltar appears to Six, she touches him more than he touches her. The cover of one of the [=DVD=]s even has her cupping his face with her hand.
* ''{{Series/Bones}}'': Angela can be seen stroking Hodgins’ face and brushing dirt away after he and Brennan are rescued in “Aliens in the Spaceship”.
* Subverted in ''Series/TheBoys2019''. At a public event, superhero Homelander brushes aside the hair of his partner and ex-girlfriend Queen Maeve, to the appreciation of the crowd, when he's actually whispering in her ear that [[PsychoExBoyfriend he might get really upset]] if he found out [[IfICantHaveYou she'd fallen for someone else.]]
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''
** Anya patting Dawn, but as it's a patronizing gesture it only annoys her. Whereas Buffy stroking Dawn's hair is used to show the squabbling siblings actually do have affection for each other.
** A variation in "[[{{Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E12Helpless}} Helpless]]" where Giles cleans an injury on Buffy's forehead, shortly after his surrogate-parent relationship with her is lampshaded.
** Another surrogate-parent relationship: [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes Mayor Wilkins strokes Faith's hair when she's hospitalized in "Graduation Day"]].
* ''Series/{{Community}}'', as is expected of such a troperiffic show, discussed this. Jeff and Annie's relationship is characterized by him being an older brother to her, except that the increasing sexual tension is making that awkward and they can't keep it up, meaning their relationship has to evolve. The discussion ends with "We can't keep doing this kiddo," with a gentle chuck of the chin. "Can't we?" [long pause], "No, it's gross."
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** The first technical Doctor/companion kiss on the whole show is when the Second Doctor kisses Zoe on the forehead in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS6E7TheWarGames "The War Games"]].
** The Third Doctor toys with Liz's hair when she's helping him round after an attempted assassination via DeadlyGas in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS7E3TheAmbassadorsOfDeath "The Ambassadors of Death"]].
** The [[http://oi40.tinypic.com/4ilizd.jpg Third Doctor gives Jo Grant a kiss]] (something he rarely gives a companion, let alone anyone else) on the forehead after finding her safe and sound in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS8E4ColonyInSpace "Colony in Space"]]. Both Creator/JonPertwee and Creator/KatyManning seem to [[NoHuggingNoKissing fumble awkwardly]] in the lead-up to it.
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS13E3PyramidsOfMars "Pyramids of Mars"]], there is a fairly extended scene where Sarah Jane very thoroughly massages and cuddles the Doctor's head while he's coming round to consciousness. Judging by his expression, he enjoys it quite a lot.
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS17E6Shada "Shada"]], Chris allows the Doctor to wire his brain up to a man left braindead by a particularly brutal MindRape. The Doctor hooks him up to the machine, realises that Chris is finding it excruciatingly painful, and kisses him on the forehead out of pity. Then he kisses the Mind Rape victim on his forehead, "for luck".
** [[TheNthDoctor The Eleventh Doctor]] is very fond of kissing companions and loved ones on the forehead as a reassuring gesture.
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E12ThePandoricaOpens "The Pandorica Opens"]]: Amy, who [[spoiler:had forgotten her fiancé Rory after he'd been {{retgone}}d several episodes before]], finds herself stroking [[spoiler:a returned Rory's]] cheek without understanding why.
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E13TheBigBang "The Big Bang"]]: The Doctor puts his newly-acquired fez on young Amelia when she asks for a drink, which has a very similar effect to the usual form of the trope. And he does get her a drink later.
--->'''Amelia:''' I'm thirsty. Can I get a drink?\\
'''The Doctor:''' Oh, it's all mouths today, isn't it! ''[puts his fez on her, covering most of her head]''
** Towards the end of her time on the series, stroking the Twelfth Doctor's cheek becomes Clara Oswald's default mode of expressing affection for him when a hug won't do. (In their final episode together, the Doctor was originally scripted to finally return the favour, but the scene was shot differently.) This replaced slapping the Doctor which Clara did (or threatened to do) a surprising number of times in their first season together.
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E12TheDoctorFalls "The Doctor Falls"]], Bill Potts is subject to UnwillingRobotization and thinks that everyone will shun her from now on. The Doctor shows otherwise by brushing the SingleTear from her cheek.
* Played with on the kids game show ''Series/{{Double Dare|1986}}''. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3VD95RIn-4&t=7m41s In one of the physical challenges]] A contestant would have a slime filed balloon put on her hat, and then sit down receiving a pat on the head from a giant hand. This would break the balloon leaving her CoveredInGunge.
* Zoe cups and caresses Wash’s face while they talk after she frees him from Niska and gets him to the shuttle in ''{{Series/Firefly}}''
* At the end of the first episode of ''Series/Forever2014'', a flashback and AgeCut reveal that Abe was a baby that Henry and Abigail adopted at the end of World War II. This reveal is emphasized by Henry, [[Really700YearsOld who still looks 34]], kissing Abe on the top of the head in a very fatherly manner.
* ''Series/FridayNightLights'' once had Tim Riggins kiss Becky on the forehead as both an apology and a promise to come back for her.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** In the very first episode, when Robert Baratheon arrives to Winterfell and gets introduced to the Stark children. He says something funny to each, save for the youngest, Rickon, instead ruffling his hair.
** Subverted in "Winter Is Coming" when Daenerys isn't happy about her ArrangedMarriage to some savage horselord, so Prince Viserys strokes his sister's face in reassurance... while telling her he'd let Khal Drogo's entire army (and their horses) fuck her if that's what it took to get his throne back. After their marriage Khal Drogo brushes a tear from the face of his terrified bride... then indulges his MaritalRapeLicense.
** Davos gives Shireen a kiss on the forehead for prompting his EurekaMoment in "Breaker of Chains".
** Volantenes believe it's good luck to rub a dwarf's head and aren't shy about doing it without permission. Tyrion is not amused.
* The titular serial killer in ''Series/{{Hannibal}}'' is creepily fond of stroking and caressing his victims' faces as he kills them.
* There’s at least one ''{{Series/Highlander}}'' episode, “Revenge is Sweet”, where Duncan strokes Tessa’s face while they talk.
* Towards the end of the first season of ''Series/{{Homeland}}'', Tom Walker ties up an old woman and uses her home as a sniping post. After he's finished, he musses her hair before leaving.
* "The Duchess and the Devil" from ''Series/HoratioHornblower'' has this trope all over the place.
** The Duchess of Wharfedale is a lady who is cheeky, spirited, older yet still sexy as hell. She gently touches Horatio's face when she teases him about not having any razors to shave himself because he's in Spanish jail. That lady knows how to flirt.
** The Duchess affectionately strokes Archie Kennedy's forehead when he lies in bed, slowly recovering [[spoiler:from his suicide attempt by starvation]]. Lucky Duchess and lucky [[PrettyBoy Archie]].
** Horatio caresses Archie's head and loose hair when he tries to take care of him and nurse him into health. He also hands him a cup of water and tries to make him drink. These are extremely intense hurt/comfort moments between HeterosexualLifePartners.
* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'':
** "[[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E2AfterThePhantomsOfYourFormerSelf ...After the Phantoms of Your Former Self]]": After Louis de Pointe du Lac joins Lestat de Lioncourt (who are lovers) in feeding on the blood of the tenor, Lestat tenderly holds Louis' head as a gesture of intimacy.
** "[[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E6LikeAngelsPutInHellByGod Like Angels Put in Hell by God]]": Lestat delicately runs the tips of his fingers along the top of Louis' hair as they nestle together in the latter's coffin. Because Lestat [[DomesticAbuse nearly killed]] Louis in [[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E5AVileHungerForYourHammeringHeart the previous episode]], he's attempting to prove to his boyfriend that he can be gentle and caring.
* ''Series/ItsABigBigWorld'': In "Not Found Here," Burdette headpats Snook after he compliments her beauty.
* In series one, episode one of ''Series/JeevesAndWooster'', Bingo Little pats Oliver Glossup (the boy he's tutoring) during dinner, dismissing something the boy just said.
* In an early arc of ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'', the heroes protect a politician whose daughter is convinced that Double is her father (who was assassinated the year before). Philip researches her father and, at the end of the arc, Double says goodbye to her by performing the very specific head-pat he would give her every day before going to work.
* ''Series/{{Lucifer}}'': In "God Johnson", Lucifer and God (inhabiting a human body) are StrollingThroughTheChaos of a riot in a mental hospital. God gets a feather from a torn pillow stuck in his hair, which Lucifer removes. Despite Lucifer's [[DaddyIssues resentment of God]] being an ongoing theme, it's clear some part of Lucifer still loves his father and enjoys spending time with Him again.
* ''Series/TheMandalorian'': In the first season finale IG-11, Cara Dune and Greef Carga all stroke The Child's [[ExpressiveEars big ears]] as a way of saying goodbye to him.
* ''Series/{{Merlin2008}}'': Given the copious amount of LesYay between the two, Morgause and Morgana can’t keep their hands off each other whenever they’re together and Morgause loves to play with Morgana’s cheeks and caress her face.
* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'': The jury is still out as to whether Gibbs’ {{dope slap}}s to [=DiNozzo=] are kind gestures or an attempt to stop him being so... erm... so [=DiNozzo=]. [=DiNozzo=] claims he's sure they're affectionate. In one of Ziva's first episodes, she takes it as both a sign of affection and a badge of honour to receive one from Gibbs, so the reality is that it's a combination of both.
* ''Series/{{Player}}'': Ha-ri treats A-ryeong like a little sister, and when teasing her he ruffles her hair.
* JJ from ''Series/{{Skins}}'' is forever having his hair ruffled; he's well aware that it's mostly patronizing.
-->''"Then I'd tell Freddie and Cook to stop fighting over Effy before they hate each other forever, and not make me take sides. And they'd listen to me for once and not fucking ruffle my hair!"''
*** And then about two minutes later, Karen [Freddie's sister] does exactly that.
* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':
%%** Clark pats Lana quite a bit.
%%** Whitney to Lana.
** Chloe tenderly pats Clark, who is unconscious, in "[[Recap/SmallvilleS02E16Fever Fever]]".
** Clark pats Chloe in "[[Recap/SmallvilleS04E17Onyx Onyx]]" when [[spoiler:evil (well, eviler) Lex]] knocked her out cold.
** Clark gently touches Chloe in "[[Recap/SmallvilleS08E09Abyss Abyss]]" along with a forehead kiss [[spoiler:before wiping her memories of his secret]].
** Clark and Lois start patting each other's head after they drop the VitriolicBestBuds facade and start acknowledging their UnresolvedSexualTension.
%% ** In "[[Recap/SmallvilleS04E04Devoted Devoted]]", Lois pats (who?).
* In ''Series/StargateSG1'', Jack sometimes gently ruffles or smooths Daniel's hair to show affection or to comfort himself if he's worried about Daniel. He also does it to annoy Daniel sometimes.
* Alex does this to [[Series/Supergirl2015 Supergirl]] in Season 1 episode, [[Recap/Supergirl2015S1E16Falling "Falling"]], by caressing her cheek to let her know that she forgives her for saying all the bad things to her under the influence of red kryptonite, even though there are some things she said were right about her.
* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode [[Recap/SupernaturalS02E20WhatIsAndWhatShouldNeverBe "What Is And What Should Never Be" (S02, Ep20)]], the Mary Winchester in the wishverse strokes Dean's face and kisses him on the forehead.
* In the ''Series/RobinOfSherwood'' episode "The Greatest Enemy", Robin of Loxley gently ruffles Much's hair before sending him away.
* ''Series/UchuSentaiKyuranger'': [[IneffectualLoner Stinger]] sometimes pats [[KidHero Kotaro]] on the head in comforting manner as big brother to younger brother. It's a gesture that Stinger's older brother used to do when Stinger was a child and it reminds him of the good times he had with his brother before it all went to hell.
* ''Series/TheWhiteQueen'': After Queen Anne experiences an acute coughing fit in the middle of a party, she rests in bed while King Richard III caresses the top of her head to soothe her. Although their marriage is in trouble in Episode 10, spending time with his ill wife and performing this gesture demonstrate that there are still some remnants of his romantic affection for her, even if it's nowhere near as strong as it used to be.
* ''Series/TheXFiles'': Mulder and Scully would frequently touch each other's forehead, stroke each other's hair, hold each other's head, or cup each other's face. UnresolvedSexualTension at its best.
[[/folder]]

* ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'': In chapter 8 Shinji rubbed the top of Asuka's head while she was resting on his lap.
* In ''Fanfic/TwiceUponAnAge'', Mahanon occasionally tugs on the end of Victoria's braid in a big brother type of gesture.

* ''Fanfic/ApexPredatorMHA'': Aizawa tends to fluff the hair of his "problem children" to comfort them, most prominently Izuku and Hitoshi.
* In the unofficial novel ''Batman: Angel of Death'', Selina likes to ruffle Damian's hair, both because she finds him cute and [[TheGadfly because she knows he does NOT like it]]. [[spoiler:During the climax, when Selina is sobbing after being talked down from killing the BigBad SinisterMinister, Damian comforts her by stroking ''her'' hair, establishing he has grown to care for her.]]
* As their tag-team duel against Yuya and Zarc is at its end in ''Fanfic/BetweenMyBrotherAndMeMorsOmnibus'', Yusho, who has been at odds with Yvonne due to her snarky remarks at his [[SadisticChoice smart decision]] to hop for the Fusion Dimension without saying goodbye to Yuya -- does this before he tells her, "I'm ready for what happens next". Unfortunately, what should've been a happy moment ends up with Yvonne shedding a SingleTear [[spoiler:because it's a huge reminder that she has to kill him at the end of the duel.]]
* ''Fanfic/BeyondTheBorders'': As said in the first chapter:
--> The event had shaken Rachel to the point where her friends took her out to grab a bite to eat,\\
[...]\\
"It really is weird," Kira said as she patted Rachel's brown-haired head like one would pat the head of a cat.
* Ash's Duskull in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11803928/19/Challenger Challenger]]'' shows affection by tapping people's foreheads and likes to have his mask tapped in return.
* ''Fanfic/TheChildOfLove'': After kissing and confessing during a festival Shinji and Asuka cuddled together. Shinji brushed away stray locks from her face as they snuggled up.
-->''She rests her head against Shinji's shoulder, and he gently brushes some hair away from his redheaded goddess' face.''
* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has Harry usually subjected to this by Wanda, his godmother and [[ParentalSubstitute mother-substitute]], who takes to carding her fingers through his perpetually messy hair.
* ''Fanfic/ChildrenOfAnElderGod'': In chapter 4 while they are talking, Kaji ruffles Asuka's hair in a paternal, placating way.

* In ''Fanfic/FieldOfInnocence,'' [[BigBrotherMentor Lu Ten]] ruffles his little cousin Zuko's hair before leaving for the Earth Kingdom.
* In ''Fanfic/FireEmblemThreeHousesFifthPath'' Jeralt attempts to do this to Byleth but both of them agree that it's weird and he should never do it again.

* ''Fanfic/GuysBeingDudes'': Both members of the main couple regularly pet or run their fingers through each other's hair.
* In the start of the third arc of ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' story ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'', Dev-Em sits down beside Kara and strokes her head in a reassuring way as she's having a break-down.
-->Dev crouched beside her and stroked her hair, gently.

* In the ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' fanfic ''FanFic/IchLiebeDich'', Doc absentmindedly strokes Marty's hair while the teen is asleep.
* Fanfic/TheKedaboryVerse:
** ''Fanfic/GlitterForceIntoTheGlitterverse'': Glitterette pets [[Anime/HappinessChargePrettyCure Jewel]]'s hair when she agrees to find [[Anime/StarTwinklePrettyCure Hikaru]] and infect her with the Glitter Force.
** ''Fanfic/HushNowLittleOne'': [[WesternAnimation/{{Encanto}} Bruno]] pets [[WesternAnimation/TurningRed Tae-young]]'s hair to calm him down during a storm.
** ''Fanfic/TheSeasonsMyReason'': Bruno ruffles [[Anime/DeliciousPartyPrettyCure Yui]]'s hair to encourage her on her quest.
* ''Fanfic/ImNobody'': Roxas is at the receiving end of this all the time from Shepard, Ashley, and Axel, especially in the form of noogies. There's a time when he's subjected to three very rough noogies in a row because everyone was worried about him.
* At the start of ''Webcomic/InWhichGuzmaIsFrustrated'', Lusamine praises a younger Guzma and pats him on the head, which makes him blush.
* In ''Fanfic/KyonBigDamnHero'', Kyon tousles his little sister's hair pretty much whenever he sees her.

* ''Fanfic/MyDreamIsYours'': Touching foreheads is how dreams are transferred from one Dream-Transfer-itis victim to another. Olympia and Otis attempt to do it in order to get Otis's dream back in his head, and they are initially awkward at it.
* Just like in the [[Literature/MyYouthRomanticComedyIsWrongAsIExpected source novel]], Hachiman in ''Fanfic/MyHeroSchoolAdventureIsAllWrongAsExpected'' doles these out fairly regularly to Komachi, just with a bit of a twist. Komachi's automatic AdaptiveAbility improves her body without warning her of what changes it makes. This was [[BlessedWithSuck a constant source of anxiety and frustration for her]] until Hachiman got a good enough handle on his own Quirk to, through a simple pat on her head, [[InstantExpert identify the changes his sister had undergone and advise her how to make the most out of them]]. Patting her head then became a daily ritual for the two of them, one that they both have continued long after Komachi's ability largely stabilized itself.
* In ''Fanfic/MyHuntsmanAcademia'', Izuku starts getting these from [[spoiler:Yang once they start dating. She runs her fingers through his hair and scratches his scalp when they're close to each other, making him feel comfortable but also enlivening him at the same time.]]
* ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'': Firestorm affectionately ruffles Izuku's hair before saying his goodbyes and taking off.
* ''Fanfic/NeonGenesisEvangelionGenocide'' gives several examples:

* ''Fanfic/OneGirlWithTenBrothers'': Linka finds out that Luke is bisexual and is in a romantic relationship with one of his male classmates named Sam because she [[AccidentalPublicConfession accidentally overheard a phone call between the two of them about it]]. After Luke gives her more details about his relationship in private, Linka accepts it. Luke responds by [[TheGlomp scooping her up into a big hug]] and giving her a brotherly kiss on her forehead as thanks for her unconditional love.

* ''Fanfic/TheSecondTry'': [[spoiler:Aki]] gets this a lot of her loving parents in this story and [[Webcomic/AkiChansLife the sequel]] as seen [[http://jimmywolk.studenten-froendenberg.de/eng/aki.php?browse.4.101 here]].
* In ''Fanfic/SafeAnchorage,'' Asha ruffles both Jeyne and Theon's hair or pats their heads to indicate her protectiveness and care towards them. Theon also smooths or strokes Jeyne's hair when he wants to comfort her.

* ''Fanfic/ToForgetIsUnforgivable'': Gojo frequently rubs Izuku's hood, [[InTheHood which is always up]], to make him feel better. Because Izuku created this with his power instead of actually having it as an article of clothing, the animal ears on it flatten as if they're real whenever this happens.
* In ''Fanfic/TheUnfantasticAdventuresOfBizarroNo1'', Bizarro ruffles his son's hair when Junior says he's glad to be able to rely on his father.

* In ''VideoGame/LoveLiveSchoolIdolFestival'', one of the things Nozomi will say on the home screen as your center is, "Once you clear your goals, I'll give you a pat on the head" ("[[KansaiRegionalAccent Uchi wa yoshi-yoshi shiteageru yan]]").