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BYO coffee mug instead
of "disposable" take-away cups. Don't have a mug?
We'll send you one of ours. Simply drop us a
line.
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The ability to make eye contact is a key
social skill, and arguably a foundation stone
for healthy relationships.
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Values
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Eye contact is a powerful form of communication. A huge
amount of information is available through the eyes.
Eyes can tell us if a person is being honest or devious;
if they're feeling confident or shy; if they're paying
attention or drifting off; if they're being direct or
evasive; if they are sad, angry, happy, fearful or ashamed.
 When
we know someone well, we can often tell immediately
what they're thinking simply by making eye contact with
them. We can tell if someone is in a daydream when they
are staring up at the sky. We know a couple is in love
by watching the way they gaze at each other. And we
sense conflict when two people are glaring at each other.
Is this form of communication learned or instinctive?
Research conducted in 2002 involved showing paired
photographs of faces to infants between two and five
days old. In one photograph, the eyes were averted.
In the other, the eyes looked directly forward. The
researchers found that the babies looked longer at the
faces with which they were able to make eye contact.
The fact that babies can do this at such an early age
suggests the response is in-built rather than learned.
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Scientists say this ability probably helps infants to
establish human links and to develop social skills in
later life. We also learn through our own experience,
the impact of meeting someone's eyes, or not. Being able
to make eye contact is arguably one of the major foundations
for healthy relationships. It can create intimacy and
connection. It is also one of the things that make us
uniquely human.
Although eye contact is a universal way of communicating,
there are cultural differences. In Japanese culture, for
example, it is considered rude to look someone directly
in the eye and hold the gaze. In Australian culture however,
the avoidance of eye contact is perceived as sly, shifty,
dishonest, having something to hide, or simply not being
totally open.
What are your eyes saying?
References:
http://www.junie-ong.com/crosscultural.htm
http://www.upliftprogram.com
http://www.suite101.com
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In
the next issue of voice, you're all in for a surprise.
We're overhauling the look and structure of our
ezine to better reflect who we are. Each issue will
feature five short pieces related to our core values:
