Eye contact is a vital aspect of human communication, and researchers have been studying its significance. According to social psychologist Judith Hall, people tend to look more while listening than when speaking, although looking is hardly ever a steady stare.
The Power of Eye Contact
Melissa J. Perry, dean of the College of Public Health at George Mason University, notes that eye contact is a brain-stimulating interaction that is fundamental to human connection. Our brains are optimized for seeking out sensory input from others through eye contact and other nonverbal cues, including facial expressions and posture.
Eye contact also has neurochemical effects within the body, including the release of oxytocin, which plays a crucial role in social bonding. Paula Niedenthal, a professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, explains that the initial function of eye contact is to create a social bond with somebody and to generate activation in the reward systems of the brain.
While there is no rule for the appropriate amount of eye contact, researchers agree that healthy communication depends on natural intermittent eye contact. Too little can suggest uncertainty or disengagement, while too much can feel intimidating or confrontational.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
