1. EYE CONTACT
“In the case of young lovers experiencing the first intense emotions of mutual attraction ,
there are some very noticeable patterns of gazing”
-usually, there’s a shyness between the 2 lovebirds at the beginning. The battle inside them
between wanting to gaze at the person and the shyness that makes them stare at the
ground or anywhere else is a definite sign of a starting amorous relationship. As the
relationship evolves, so do the feelings of confidence, the couple ending up staring at each
other for long periods of time or gazing in each other’s eyes. (“period of rapt attention”)
After this period, when they have truly laid they’re fears aside and the fear is gone, they
may be seen sitting together, making small intimate gestures, touching while they talk. This
would be a sign of “mutual attachment”. (“making gentle physical contacts”)
“It can be said that a direct stare indicates intensely active feelings of an amorous kind,
while a deflected gaze is linked with shyness.”
• Goffman suggests –
• What we need to know is what our audience expects and to be sensitive to the
requirements of the situation.
• Impression management suggests we can choose which particular self-image we
present in a particular situation.
• Gergen (1965) examined how self esteem is effected by others reactions
• Fazio (1981) examined how the way people see themselves can be influenced by the
questins asked of the,

2. • Morse and Gergen (1970) examined how self concept can be re-assessed if and
when the situation changed.
• The extent to which we pay attention to ourselves as social objects affects how we
see ourselves.
• Duval and Wickland (1972)
• Schlenker (1980)
Personal bond = body proximity
Anthony Gideon confluent love model
Goffman screen love
• In long-term relationships our self-presentation needs to be consistent.
» Freedman and Fraser (1966)