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examBoard: AQA
examType: GCSE
lessonTitle: Functions of Eye Contact
Eye contact is one of the most powerful forms of nonverbal communication humans use. When we look into someone else's eyes, we're not just seeing them - we're connecting with them in a meaningful way. Our eyes can communicate emotions, intentions and social messages without saying a single word.
Key Definitions:
Eye contact is often described as the "window to the soul" because it can reveal so much about what we're thinking and feeling. It's one of the first forms of communication we learn as babies and it remains crucial throughout our lives. In psychology, researchers have identified six main functions that eye contact serves in human interaction.
When we make eye contact, our brains release chemicals like oxytocin (sometimes called the "bonding hormone"). This helps explain why eye contact feels meaningful - it literally creates a biological connection between people. Studies show that even brief eye contact can trigger increased brain activity in social processing regions.
Psychologists have identified six primary functions that eye contact serves in human communication. Each function plays an important role in how we interact with others and build relationships.
One of the most important functions of eye contact is to help manage the flow of conversation. It acts like a traffic signal for talking.
When someone is finishing speaking, they often make eye contact to signal it's your turn to talk. Looking away can indicate you want to keep speaking.
Eye contact often initiates social interactions. Meeting someone's gaze across a room can be an invitation to approach or speak.
During conversation, eye contact provides feedback. Nodding while maintaining eye contact shows you're listening and understanding.
Researcher Adam Kendon (1967) studied how people use eye contact during conversations. He found that speakers typically look away when beginning to speak (to concentrate on what they're saying) and then make eye contact again when finishing their point - signalling to the listener that it's their turn to respond.
When we speak, we naturally look at our listener's eyes to check how they're responding to what we're saying.
Through eye contact, we can gauge if someone is:
This feedback helps us adjust our communication style in real-time. If someone looks confused, we might explain things differently. If they look bored, we might change the subject.
Our eyes are incredibly expressive and can communicate a wide range of emotions without words.
Genuine happiness involves not just a smile but also "smiling eyes" (the corners crinkle). Prolonged eye contact often signals interest and warmth.
Anger often involves an intense, fixed stare. Sadness might involve downcast eyes or tearfulness. Fear can show in widened eyes.
Emotions like shame often involve avoiding eye contact, while surprise typically involves widened eyes and direct gaze.
The way we make eye contact with someone can reveal a lot about our relationship with them and our feelings toward them.
Prolonged eye contact is strongly associated with attraction. Studies show that people who are attracted to each other maintain eye contact for longer periods. In romantic relationships, mutual gazing can create feelings of intimacy and connection. This is sometimes called the "love gaze" and typically involves dilated pupils and softer eye expressions.
Eye contact can also communicate social status and power dynamics. In many situations, the more dominant person may maintain eye contact while the subordinate person looks away more frequently. Staring someone down can be an act of dominance or aggression. In contrast, avoiding eye contact can signal submission or deference in certain contexts.
Psychologist Phoebe Ellsworth conducted a famous study in 1972 where researchers stared at drivers stopped at traffic lights. The study found that drivers were significantly more likely to drive away quickly when the light turned green if they had been stared at, compared to when no one was looking at them. This demonstrated how eye contact can create discomfort and prompt action when it violates social norms.
Eye contact isn't just about social connection - it also relates to how we think and process information.
When people are thinking hard about something, they often break eye contact. This happens because visual processing and deep thinking can compete for brain resources. You might notice that when someone is:
This is why teachers and parents shouldn't always insist that children maintain eye contact when answering difficult questions - looking away may actually help them think better!
Eye contact norms vary significantly across different cultures and understanding these differences is crucial for effective cross-cultural communication.
In most Western societies (UK, USA, Australia), direct eye contact is valued and associated with honesty, confidence and respect.
In many East Asian cultures, prolonged eye contact with authority figures can be seen as disrespectful or challenging. Looking down may show respect.
Some Middle Eastern cultures have different norms for eye contact between men and women, with restrictions on cross-gender eye contact in more traditional settings.
These cultural differences can lead to misunderstandings. For example, a British teacher might think a Japanese student is being dishonest if they avoid eye contact, when the student is actually showing respect according to their cultural norms.
Understanding eye contact is particularly important when considering certain neurodevelopmental conditions and psychological disorders.
Many people with autism find eye contact uncomfortable or overwhelming. This isn't because they're being rude or uninterested - it's because eye contact can cause sensory overload for them. Some autistic people describe direct eye contact as feeling "too intense" or "burning." This difference in eye contact behaviour is often one of the early signs that helps diagnose autism in young children.
People with social anxiety often find it difficult to maintain eye contact because it triggers feelings of being judged or evaluated. They might look away frequently during conversations, which can sometimes be misinterpreted as disinterest or dishonesty. Cognitive behavioural therapy for social anxiety often includes gradual practice with eye contact to help reduce this discomfort.
Researchers Senju and Johnson (2009) described what they called the "eye contact effect" - the phenomenon where direct gaze from another person creates heightened self-awareness and activates specific brain regions involved in social cognition. Their research using brain imaging showed that when we make eye contact with someone, our brain processes that information differently than when we look at other parts of a face. This helps explain why eye contact feels so significant and why it plays such an important role in human communication.
To recap what we've learned, eye contact serves six main functions in human communication:
Understanding these functions helps us become more aware of how we use eye contact in our own lives and how to interpret others' eye contact behaviour more accurately.
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