Oculesics, or the use of eye contact, is a way of communicating with the eyes. All cultures use eye contact to communicate in a variety of ways.
However, misunderstandings can occur due to to the ways different cultures use eye contact.
In particular, there are two general forms of eye contact:
It can also be used—particularly in a business setting—to send a message that you're confident and bold. In fact, if you don't make eye contact, you may appear as though you're unsure of yourself.
Our culture is very comfortable with direct eye contact. We do it unconsciously and instantaneously because that's the message we've been taught to send. However, if you were to go to another country, making direct eye contact could send a very different signal.
IN CONTEXT
In certain Asian countries, direct eye contact can be seen as an affront, a sign of disrespect, or even a challenge. This is particularly true if you're making that eye contact with someone in a position of authority over you. It would instead be more proper to look away, or have brief, sporadic eye contact. In contrast, sporadic eye contact would be interpreted very differently in the United States.
In some cultures, direct eye contact between a man and a woman—even just quick eye contact—can signal different things.
IN CONTEXT
A woman (or anyone) from the United States may make eye contact as a way of just saying hello to someone, or as a way of being cordial and respectful. In some cultures, however, a man making eye contact with a women is a sign of flirtation. Returning that eye contact could send a very different message than the one the woman intended.
Direct eye contact can thus have several different meanings depending on the context and culture in which it is used.
The extreme of this would be prolonged direct eye contact, or not gazing away for an extended period of time.
IN CONTEXT
People in the United States tend to be very comfortable with direct eye contact, but if someone makes eye contact with you for too long, you would probably start to feel uncomfortable. However, there are some countries in which that kind of eye contact—particularly between members of the same gender—is a sign that people are telling the truth and can be trusted.
IN CONTEXT
In the United States, gazing away or looking down often sends a signal to people that you’re distracted or uninterested. However, in many Latin American, Asian, and African cultures, brief, sporadic eye contact would be considered normal and respectful; you would not want to look someone directly in the eye.
As a complete opposite of prolonged, direct eye contact, there is lack of eye contact. Lack of eye contact is a form of communication in some cultures.
IN CONTEXT
In Japanese culture, it is considered respectful, polite, and appropriate for a Japanese woman not to make any form of eye contact with someone. Lack of eye contact in that culture sends a very different message than the one it would send here in the United States.
Source: Adapted from Sophia tutorial by Marlene Johnson.