Eye Contact

Eye Contact
In many Western societies, including the United States, a person who does not
maintain “good eye contact” is regarded as being slightly suspicious, or a “shifty”
character. Americans unconsciously associate people who avoid eye contact
as unfriendly, insecure, untrustworthy, inattentive, and impersonal.
However, in contrast, Japanese children are taught in school to direct their gaze
at the region of their teacher’s Adam’s apple or tie knot, and, as adults,
Japanese lower their eyes when speaking to a superior, a gesture of respect.
Latin American cultures, as well as some African cultures, such as Nigeria
have longer looking time, but prolonged eye contact from an individual of lower status
is considered disrespectful. In the US, it is considered rude to stare – regardless
of who is looking at whom. In contrast, the polite Englishman is taught to pay strict
attention to a speaker, to listen carefully, and to blink his eyes to let the speaker
know he or she has been understood as well as heard. Americans signal interest
and comprehension by bobbing the heads or grunting.
A widening of the eyes can also be interpreted differently, depending on circumstances
and culture. Take, for instance, the case of an American and a Chinese discussing
the terms of a proposed contract. Regardless of the language in which the proposed
contract is carried out, the US negotiator may interpret a Chinese person’s
widened eyes as an expression of astonishment instead of as a danger signal
(its true meaning) of politely expressed anger.