How Does Eye Contact Work?
There’s a saying that states that “the eyes are the window to our souls.” Because through our eyes we can show others how we feel, both physically and emotionally. Furthermore, through your eyes, you can create a closer bond with the person you are talking to, making them feel more at ease, or on the other hand, making them feel threatened.
In short, our eyes are a part of our nonverbal communication, which is also composed of our smile or hands or shoulders. Now that you know this, would you like to learn how eye contact works within our interpersonal relationships? Well, keep reading and you’ll find out.
It depends on the situation
A gaze works differently depending on the situation a person finds themselves in. For example, your gaze tends to be more intense and prolonged in a conversation between only two people. But within a group conversation, the members tend to exchange glances, which don’t typically last any more than 3 to 5 seconds.
Furthermore, within a conversation, one can add up the time you spend looking at someone and the time you spend looking elsewhere. The ration tends to be 30% of eye contact and 60% of time spent looking elsewhere while you are listening. If you look at them less than this, it could denote that you are not interested in the conversation. And if you maintain eye contact much more than this percentage, then obviously you are very interested in it! And you know what this means don’t you? You’ll find the answer in the next paragraph.
Lovers maintain longer eye contact
It’s hard to tell whether someone hates you or loves you when they maintain a really long eye contact with you. Just like everything else in life, it depends on the situation and the relationship these two people share.
However, it’s clear that lovers enjoying a romantic evening tend to maintain longer and more intense gazes. In fact, it’s been proven that the people who like you tend to look at you in the eyes much more often than people who don’t care for you.
Intense eye contact can be negative in some cultures
Visual contact doesn’t work the same way or mean the same thing in every corner of the world. For example, the Japanese interpret not looking directly into someones eyes as a sign of respect towards others. However, for most of the Western world, not doing so can mean distrust or contempt. But we’re not the only ones who see visual contact as something normal. Many Arabic countries tend to maintain more prolonged and intense gazes and visual contact.
Liars make more visual contact
People have always believed that when someone lies, they tend to avoid visual contact. But nothing is further from the truth. Because in reality, when someone is lying, they focus even more on the face of their listener to see if they are believing their lie. And also, they think, in order to gain points in trust and credibility.
As you now know, we can show the whole world what were feeling at all times through our eyes. And you? Do you tend to look other people directly in the eye? Well, from here on out we recommend that you do. The people around you will surely “see you” in a better light.