A shock absorbent collar for a protective torso armor plate for human beings made of expanded plastic material. The expanded plastic is crushable and, therefore, impact absorbing. The collar protects the neck, chin, and face or other portions of the head of the wearer of the armor plate in case of sudden deceleration of the body of the wearer of the armor plate, which would shift upwardly in such event and in the absence of the collar would strike the neck or chin or other parts of the head of the wearer with damaging force.