Eye Contact (original) (raw)
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(no subject)
from: 
grumpyoldmen
date: Feb. 27th, 2014 10:21 pm (UTC)
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I tend not to make eye contact unless/until I know the person really well. I don't even look at faces much, actually. I wonder if extroverts do the same thing...
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from: christina_tm
date: Feb. 27th, 2014 11:10 pm (UTC)
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Eye contact is a problem for a lot of people, not just introverts. I think most people dislike eye contact.
I look at people's eyebrows/over their heads.
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from: dinogrrl
date: Feb. 27th, 2014 11:45 pm (UTC)
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Most people don't like direct, prolonged eye contact. Across the animal kingdom, keeping direct eye contact while directly facing someone is pretty universal in meaning 'I challenge you'. It's rather befuddling that in Western society (or at least, in America) we're taught this is the preferable way to interact with people, especially strangers.
I do recall reading a recent study that supported the fact that people generally found eye contact intimidating, and that if you must be looking at someone's face while you talk with them, it's much more comfortable for them if you look at their nose or mouth. So yeah, I think the psychologist is definitely in the wrong.
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from: salad_barbarian
date: Feb. 28th, 2014 01:13 am (UTC)
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I don't know if it's because I'm an introvert but I don't like looking in people's eyes. I've been trying to get better at it but I'm still not comfortable doing it.
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from: christina_tm
date: Feb. 28th, 2014 01:31 am (UTC)
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I maintain eye contact pretty well when listening but have to work at it when I'm talking.
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from: 
ninasafiri
date: Feb. 28th, 2014 03:39 am (UTC)
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I'm comfortable making eye contact when people are talking to me, I think you learn a lot by looking directly at someone's face.
I don't like to look at people when I'm talking about myself tho. I almost never made eye contact with my therapist lol
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from: bananacasserole
date: Feb. 28th, 2014 06:07 am (UTC)
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I don't usually avoid it on purpose, but I frequently finish a conversation and realize that I barely made eye contact. As someone noted above, most people avoid prolonged eye contact, so it's hard to judge whether this is weird or not.
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from: newhavenite
date: Feb. 28th, 2014 11:55 pm (UTC)
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I rarely make eye contact. I'll do it if I have to (at work, in a meeting, etc) but otherwise... no. "Eyes are the window to the soul" and I'd prefer to keep people from peeking.
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from: jeroentiggelman
date: Mar. 1st, 2014 10:59 am (UTC)
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I don't have trouble with eye contact and I do not dislike it "per se".
Whether having eye contact is a pleasant experience in part depends on the other person and how they feel about it.
When I have no wish to be spoken to, I tend to avoid eye contact so as not to invite.
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from: antigone_k
date: Mar. 3rd, 2014 02:49 am (UTC)
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I generally avoid eye contact. Sometimes quite a bit. The only way I can pull it off is if I space out from my physical surroundings somewhat while talking.
People don't necessarily like intense eye contact (the kind that you get from salespeople) but they don't like it when you avoid it, either. By that I mean when you avoid looking at their face entirely while talking. As a funny aside: I had a professor in graduate school that was so uncomfortable with eye contact that he would occasionally turn towards the wall while he lectured. I had another professor that, when you'd pass them in the halls, would say hello and ask you how you were doing while staring at the floor the whole time. I'm not sure if that was introversion or social anxiety, though.