Discussion»Questions»Communication» How important is maintaining eye contact during a conversation? I have had instances where people say the most profound things without it.
Very important. People who don't look you in the eye during conversation are either lying, autistic, or have a seriously bad habit or personality issue that I, likely, will address unless I'm talking to a stranger, in which case the person with the wandering eyes would be considered untrustworthy.
This post was edited by Thriftymaid at October 24, 2017 7:16 PM MDT
Very important. I feel left out of the conversation when eye contact isnt present in it. Usually people that are insecure with themselves or have a different agenda than a conversation with you are the ones who avoid eye contact. If im having a conversation with someone who doesnt think Im important enough to look me in the eye, my conversation with them is very short indeed.
Not important to me at all. And that's because I'm not very good at maintaining it myself. I find eyes to be distracting, and I can concentrate on the topic and understand my co-talker better when not looking into them.
Bingo. Amen. Me, too. And people still seem to have found that I can be truthful and trustworthy. I've heard that keeping eye contact is so very important my whole life -- I've tried to do it but I often understand and communicate more effectively if I'm not stuck seeing my reflection in someone else's pupils. :)
This post was edited by WelbyQuentin at October 25, 2017 8:29 PM MDT
Of course we know it is not necessary for a conversation to take place...but... the real closeness of the feeling of the conversation is deepened where there is eye contact
It is not so much maintaining as making eye contact. If someone refuses to or avoids making eye contact, it makes one think what they say is not something they are willing to stand behind.
I don't think it's important, but that's because it just makes me uncomfortable and I'm incapable of making eye contact. It's not because I'm a liar or evil or anything. I just have social anxiety problems.
righty1 