Making eye contact when speaking to someone

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  1. lali333's Avatar
    • Full Member
    • Location: Glasgow
    • Posts: 95
    Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    Hey guys! When speaking to someone I always make eye contact with them and the majority of people also make eye contact with me but I bumped into an old friend and he didn't make eye contact for longer than than 2secs! He kept looking around and was very jumpy. This made me wonder if people are just a bit nervous of looking straight into someone eyes.

    On the other I know a woman who is VERY intense when speaking to you. She moves her head closer to you and stares properly into your eyes which makes me move away from her as it feels like she is invading my personal space. Btw she does this to everyone and most people feel the same as me but she is a nice person! Lol!

    So guys let me know what you think and whether you make eye contact. What personality and behaviour do people associate with this. For example if you fancy someone do you look at them more in the eyes? It will be good hear your opinions!


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  2. ThatGuyPsy's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Location: Cambridge
    • Posts: 347
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    Lack of eye contact and actively avoiding the eyes either signifies a lack of self-confidence or a lack of interest in what's being said.
  3. thegodofgod's Avatar
    • TSR Legend
    • Location: London
    • Posts: 10,868
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    Whenever I'm talking to someone or someone's talking to me, I try to maintain eye contact - it just seems more polite, and lets them know that you're not ignoring them / what they are saying
    Last edited by thegodofgod; 17-07-2012 at 21:24.
  4. zxh800's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
    • Location: Trollistan/Cambridge/London
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    My eyes water when I look into people's eyes .
    Last edited by zxh800; 24-07-2012 at 00:40.
  5. iheartplums's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Posts: 220
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    I don't really make eye contact with ppl either, I just sort of stare out while I talk to them, I think it's just a habit.
  6. Tochai's Avatar
    • Full Member
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    I find it really difficult to make eye contact sometimes, so I tend to look directly between the person's eyes. That way at least it looks like I'm looking them in the eye.
  7. simibean's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Posts: 625
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    I also find it hard to make eye contact.
  8. Chow mein's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Posts: 311
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    Sometimes I find too much eye contact a bit awkward
  9. ummm's Avatar
    • Peer Of The TSR Realm
    • Location: The Cupboard under the Stairs, 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey | Posts: No post on Sundays!
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    It depends on who I'm talking to. If it's with a good friend, I'll usually just make eye contact and also look away and just be completely relaxed. If it's a teacher then I always feel really awkward and end up looking down at my desk or something and just nod. If it's someone who is OTT with the eye contact, I'll tend to not look at them as much. If it's a boy I like then I'll make the effort to hold eye contact at certain moments.

    So yeah, basically, it varies. Also, I used to be a lot more shy a couple of years ago, and I would hate making eye contact with people, and would always avoid it walking around school, etc. I just felt so nervous! I've found now though that it's much easier to talk to new people by appearing open, and not being afraid to make eye contact makes you more approachable (as long as it's not forced and you're not just staring at them... that's just creepy and unnerving).
    Last edited by ummm; 17-07-2012 at 21:34.
  10. bownessie's Avatar
    • Adored and Respected Member
    • Location: Bowness-on-Windermere
    • Posts: 474
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    I used to not be able to look people in the eyes, sort of had to force myself to do it. Some people just don't find it comfortable, I guess
  11. silent ninja's Avatar
    • TSR Legend
    • Location: in the shadows
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    uhh.. no. I make eye contact but heck no am I fixated on their eyes. I look around, I pick at things, I maybe even read my watch, but I generally look at them regularly to maintain that eye contact.
  12. No Man's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    I don't sustain eye contact with people if I have a weak relationship with them.
    Last edited by No Man; 17-07-2012 at 21:36.
  13. MagicNMedicine's Avatar
    • TSR Idol
    • Location: This sceptred isle
    • Posts: 9,643
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    I make a lot of eye contact with people and I always get disappointed when they don't reciprocate with me. I think its easier to connect if you have an animated and expressive face that shows emotions. If someone is deadpan and just stares straight into your eyes it seems creepy.
  14. Daniellejo.'s Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
    • Posts: 944
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    I generally make eye contact automatically but as soon as I become consciously aware of it I start doing the flinching thing and not looking for more than 2 seconds lol. The awareness makes it awkward because you start overthinking about what's appropriate and if you look strange etc, probably making you look even more strange tbh.
    Yeah, I can be quite socially insecure at times.
    Last edited by Daniellejo.; 17-07-2012 at 21:37.
  15. Pensivedore's Avatar
    • Peer Of The TSR Realm
    • Posts: 1,882
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    It annoys me when people don't make eye contact during a conversation. It makes it seem as if they are disinterested, which offends me, oddly enough.
  16. Tedaus's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Posts: 644
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    I hate when people flicker their eyes all round your face or at both your eyes. Or when people stare at one aspect of your face like your hair or something, I start to feel self conscious about what they're looking at haha.

    Saying that, I used to have trouble looking people in the eyes especially when I was close to them, but I just forced myself to do it, at least while they're speaking. When you're talking, looking away at times and flicking back to them is pretty common I think.
  17. LETSJaM's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Posts: 3,294
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    I do. I was brought up with good manners and an enforced confidence after being chucked into an education that was; be confident or be eaten.

    <3 x
  18. ConstantlyStressed's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Posts: 176
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    As annoying and frustrating as some people would find it, I really, really struggle to maintain eye contact with anyone - including some of my closest friends.

    I just feel really insecure when they're looking back, as if they're staring at a spot or something hideous on my face.

    I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's what I think. And I'm a pretty introverted person, in that I prefer spending time alone .
  19. Negaduck's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
    • Location: Northern Ireland/ Brighton
    • Posts: 1,114
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    I always make eye contact unless i'm completely disinterested in what is being said and just want them to stop talking.
  20. RickVargas's Avatar
    • New Member
    • Posts: 4
    Re: Making eye contact when speaking to someone
    (Original post by Tochai)
    I find it really difficult to make eye contact sometimes, so I tend to look directly between the person's eyes. That way at least it looks like I'm looking them in the eye.
    I used to know someone who would stare fixedly at the 3rd eye! Really unnerved me. I'd much rather someone looked me in the eye. No need for constant eye contact but it adds much more depth to human communication.
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