Eye contact

Eye contact occurs when two people or non-human animals look into each other's eyes at the same time.

In humans, this is a vital form of nonverbal communication. It can significantly influence how we behave in social settings. The term "eye contact" was coined in the early to mid-1960s. It originated in the West to define a sign of confidence and respect. Scientists who study the social meaning of eye contact use the term oculesics. This field examines how visual gaze carries deep social and emotional information.

Eye contact functions by providing details on emotions and intentions. People often search faces and eyes for signs of a positive or negative mood. This process often happens without the person even realizing it. In social groups, eye contact helps establish inclusion. If a person is not included in the gaze of the group, they may feel left out. Conversely, prolonged eye contact can signal that you are interested in a speaker. It is also a form of ostensive behavior, which means it conveys an intention to communicate. This can include a simple eyebrow rise or a direct gaze.

In certain social contexts, eye contact serves specific roles like flirting. This often begins with a brief glance between two people. It then progresses into a repeated volleying of eye contact to gauge mutual interest. However, eye contact is not always about connection. In a crowded space, strangers may use "civil inattention." This is when people avoid eye contact to help maintain privacy. In clinical settings, doctors use mental status exams to evaluate eye contact. They note if a patient initiates, responds to, sustains, or evades the gaze. They also look for whether the gaze is unusually intense, blank, or if the patient glares.

Developmental studies show how eye contact shapes early life. A 1985 study suggested 3-month-old infants were relatively insensitive to being looked at. However, a 1996 Canadian study found that smiling decreased when adult eye contact was removed. Research in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience found that direct gaze helps infants recognize faces. Within their first year, infants learn that looking behaviors convey important information. They prefer faces that engage them in mutual gaze. Healthy babies even show enhanced neural processing when seeing a direct gaze.

A 2001 German study examined the link between eye contact and maternal sensitivity. Researchers watched mothers and infants during free play for 12 weeks. They categorized mothers into groups like inhibited, aggressive, or overstimulated. They measured mutual eye contact by looking at the overlap in time when both looked at each other. The study found that eye contact between mothers and infants increased continuously over those 12 weeks. Mothers who held eye contact early on were described as sensitive. They also found that as eye contact increased, the duration of infant crying decreased. This suggests a strong relationship between gaze and infant well-being.

Cultural norms change how eye contact is perceived globally. In East Asia and Nigeria, it is often respectful to avoid looking a dominant person in the eye. In Western cultures, avoiding eye contact can be judged as being "shifty-eyed." This term implies that a person has unrevealed or suspicious intentions. In traditional Islamic theology, it is often advised to lower one's gaze to avoid sinful desires. Even in the West, constant unbroken eye contact can feel overbearing or distracting. In Japan, children are taught to look at a teacher's tie knot or Adam's apple. Adults in Japan may lower their eyes when speaking to a superior to show respect.

Eye contact can also be difficult due to biological or mental factors. People with autism spectrum disorders or social anxiety may find it unsettling. Physical conditions like strabismus can also interfere with normal gaze. This condition involves misaligned eyes, meaning a person may only make contact with one eye. Furthermore, looking at faces is mentally demanding. A study of 20 British children found that those who avoid eye contact while answering questions may actually answer more correctly. This is because looking at faces can make it harder to concentrate on complex mental tasks. A blank stare might simply indicate that a person is processing information.

Finally, eye contact is a major factor in animal interactions. Many animals, including dogs, may perceive direct eye contact as a threat. For example, hikers are often told to avoid eye contact with bears. Among primates, eye contact is seen as especially aggressive. Chimpanzees use it to signal hostility during encounters. However, eye contact between a dog and its owner can be different. It can trigger the secretion of oxytocin, a neuromodulator used in bonding. This is similar to the bonding seen between a mother and an infant.