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Article: Eye Contact1

Article: Eye Contact

Eye contact is a form of nonverbal communication among human beings that can imply a multitude of social meanings across a range of cultures. In most Western societies, maintaining eye contact is considered polite and a symbol of self-confidence and honesty. But in many non- Western cultures, making eye contact is seen as disrespectful. These varying interpretations of the same action can sometimes lead to misunderstandings between members of different cultures.

Eye Contact in Western Culture

Inherent in the biology of human beings is the ability to derive social meanings from making visual contact with the eyes of others. Because of this, people all over the world regard eye contact in its many contexts as an important factor in interpersonal communication. However, the specific types of meaning that eye contact conveys vary from culture to culture, with the greatest divide existing between the West and the East.

The Western world—which consists principally of Western Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—lives by its own set of social rules for interpreting eye contact. These regions consider eye contact a natural part of any one-on-one conversation, though different circumstances and social roles call for changes in its nuances. In conversations between two Westerners, listeners are unconsciously expected to hold more eye contact than speakers to show that they are attentive. Speakers generally alternate between meeting their listeners' eyes and looking away before resuming full eye contact at the conclusion of their statement.

But Western listeners have the additional responsibility of maintaining a balance between making too much and too little eye contact. In the West, holding a speaker's gaze for an extended period without a break is considered staring, which can be perceived as rude or even aggressive. Averting one's eyes for too long signals to the speaker that the listener's attention is diverted, which Western speakers generally interpret as rude. However, shyness or lack of self-confidence can also cause individuals to avoid holding eye contact with others for any length of time.

Knowing when to hold and break gazes during conversations to be polite is only one function of eye contact in the West. The eyes are versatile tools that can be used to communicate a wide range of social signals that most Westerners understand but may not consider consciously. For example, the ways in which one uses eye contact can imply social dominance or submissiveness; confident and more powerful people generally assert their authority by maintaining more eye contact than their meek and subordinate listeners, who find it easier to avert their eyes in deference to a superior.

This trend continues in other areas of Western culture, even when social dominance is not clearly expressed. A speaker who asks a question of everyone in a small group but looks directly at only one person has almost imperceptibly forbidden everyone but that individual from answering the question. If the speaker's gaze then shifts to the group in general, the others recognize that they have been invited to speak. Avoiding eye contact is another form of subtle social control. By refusing to look at people who are attempting to communicate, listeners convey that the

Article: Eye Contact2

interaction is undesirable and should end immediately. Similarly, Westerners generally avert their eyes from everyone in public spaces such as elevators or subways to communicate that they are maintaining a sense of personal space by not inviting conversation. In most of these cases, the social information is transmitted and received almost entirely unconsciously. Despite its subtleties, eye contact plays an enormous role in everyday Western society.

Eye Contact in Non-Western Cultures

Many Easterners and other non-Western peoples view eye contact very differently from Westerners. Though non-Western societies attach great importance to the implications of making or avoiding eye contact, the meanings of these actions are often not the same. These kinds of cultural differences can lead to social misunderstandings when Easterners and Westerners interact.

In many Caribbean, East Asian, and Latino societies, making extended eye contact, either while speaking or listening, is considered disrespectful and is usually avoided. Therefore, it is normal in these cultures for people to avert their eyes or, as with the Japanese, even close them while conversing. Westerners who encounter such actions may perceive these cultures as rude or dismissive, for what is polite in Japan or Central America is viewed as offensive in the West.

Several non-Western societies also avoid prolonged and direct eye contact, but with the slightly different purpose of showing respect for social status. In regions of Africa, young people or those considered lower in the social hierarchy avoid making eye contact with their elders or superiors for just this purpose. Nearly the same tradition applies in India, where people of different social and economic classes avoid meeting one another's eyes. However, when interacting with members of the same class, Indians usually hold eye contact for extended periods. Westerners who interact with Indians can perceive this behavior as intimidating staring.

In numerous Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa, religiosity and modesty discourage men and women from making eye contact unless they know one another. However, among members of the same sex, eye contact during conversations is not only direct but also prolonged, so that listeners can absorb the truth of what is being said. Westerners may interpret this kind of eye contact as an extreme form of staring and become uneasy.

Many other cultures around the world engage in their own unique forms of eye contact. However they view this common social interaction, most individuals consider the interplay of the human eyes to be highly socially significant.

Bibliography

Ellsberg, Michael. The Power of Eye Contact: Your Secret for Success in Business, Love, and Life. HarperPaperbacks, 2010.

Goman, Carol Kinsey. "Fascinating Facts about Eye Contact." Forbes, 21 Aug. 2014, http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolkinseygoman/2014/08/21/facinating-facts-about-eye-contact/. Accessed 31 Oct. 2016.

Article: Eye Contact3

Hamilton, Cheryl. Communicating for Results: A Guide for Business and the Professions. 10th ed. Wadsworth, 2014.

Samovar, Larry A. Communication between Cultures. 8th ed. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2013.

Swaroop Debasish, Sathya, and Das, Bhagaban. Business Communication. PHI Learning, 2009.

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