Researchers believe that eyes can have almost “magic power” and can broadcast many emotions that are sometimes difficult to notice.
Eye contact plays a crucial role in our social lives – psychologists believe it can signal a wide variety of emotions, including love, hate, intelligence, intimidation, persuasion, sarcasm and even lies, writes PSY Blog.
It is clear that our eyes have an extraordinary power and can sometimes have an almost magical effect on people. However, our psychology is such that we cannot always look everyone in the eye. In fact, the gaze is the same tool as the smile, and with its help we send all kinds of signals to our interlocutor, depending on the situation and context.
normal eye contact
Psychologists point out that the normal amount of direct eye contact depends largely on the situation. For example, in one-on-one conversations, we tend to make direct eye contact more often. At the same time, in groups, we tend to look directly at the other person for about 3-5 seconds, but increase eye-to-eye contact to an average of 7-10 seconds.
Scientists note that the average formula of our eye contact and time away from it appears to be about 30 to 50%. However, the duration of eye contact is usually longer when listening and shorter when speaking.
eye contact for love
Prolonged eye contact displays strong emotion, but it’s hard to recognize on its own – a lot depends on context. For example, when a person looks at another for a long time without knowing the context, it is difficult to understand whether he loves them or wants to kill them.
For example, at dinner, couples in love look into each other’s eyes and, of course, it is unlikely that they would want to kill each other in this context. Studies show that couples who are in love tend to maintain deep eye contact for longer than those who are not.
Catch with eye contact
Once again, context is important. In the wrong context, prolonged eye contact can turn into a fiasco.
For example, in one study, participants were asked to take a split test – but during the conversation, the researcher looked them in the eye. The results showed that people hated it so much that their test scores dropped.
In addition, scientists note that, depending on the culture, prolonged eye contact can be perceived as aggressive and even intimidating.
Eye contact for love, leadership and aggression
Studies show that Westerners tend to think more confidently of people who make more eye contact. In addition, such people are associated with leadership qualities, are considered less anxious and more intelligent.
Scientists confirm that people with higher self-esteem and more power are more likely to maintain eye contact rather than avert their eyes.
Eye contact and persuasion
Scientists believe we will find them more persuasive because of the positive traits we associate with people who maintain eye contact.
A number of studies demonstrate the persuasive power of the gaze when one person tries to persuade another to do something. For example, a 2010 study shows that people are more likely to accept a marketing survey if they make eye contact. However, too much eye contact, on the contrary, can make people more resistant to persuasion. People in the study were even less convinced by making eye contact, especially when they had strongly opposing views.
eye contact and lies
Although there is an opinion that the person avoids eye contact when lying, researchers have not been able to reach strong scientific evidence for this. Scientists believe that sometimes people, on the contrary, tend to look you in the eye precisely at the moment of lying – because they want to watch your face and make sure you believe them.
eye contact and teasing
While the link between eye contact and lying is fraught with many challenges, one study found a clear link with sarcasm. Researchers have found that people are more likely to look away from their interlocutors when using sarcastic expressions.
By the way, this is also another proof that eye contact symbolizes intimacy.
Eye contact as a way to look smarter
Research shows that maintaining eye contact while talking is one of the easiest ways to look smarter. Researchers have found that making eye contact when talking about a particular topic actually makes you perceive the other person as being more intelligent.
By the way, this is also proven by intelligence tests – people who maintain eye contact are actually smarter.
Previously Focus He wrote that scientists taught a robot to maintain eye contact with humans.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.