Eye contact is a form of non-verbal communication that can convey interest, attention, and involvement, but its interpretation is highly culturally dependent. While Americans and Northern Europeans practice moderate eye contact, East Asians, Southeast Asians, and some Latin Americans prefer minimal eye contact. To use eye contact effectively, make contact to show interest but be sensitive to cultural norms and the other person's reactions, as too much or too little can damage communication or be seen as disrespectful.

1. Eye Contact
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

3. •EYE CONTACT IS A TYPE OF NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION.
•THE STUDY OF EYE CONTACT IS KNOWN AS OCULESICS.

4. Why Is Eye Contact Important?

5. Eye Contact Is VERY Culturally Determined:
Culturallydifferent:
◦MiddleEasterners,SomeLatinAmericans,French,believeindirecteyecontact.
◦Africansbelieveinquickeyecontact.
◦Americans,NorthernEuropean,Britishbelieveinmoderateeyecontact.
◦EastAsians,SoutheastAsians,EastIndians,NativeAmericansbelieveinminimaleye
contact.

6. Advantages Of Eye Contact:
1. Maintainingeyecontactsignalsgenuinenessandaddscredibility(trustworthy).
2. Eyecontactcanindicatealotofemotionsrangingfrominterest,attention,andinvolvement.
3. Eyecontactcanimprovethewayofcommunication.
4. Consistenteyecontactindicatesthattheperson(listner)isthinkingpositivelyaboutthe
speaker.(dependsonculture)
5. Eyecontacthelpsingettingthedesiredresponseorfeedback.

7. Disadvantages Of Communication:
1. AvoidingEyeContactshowsguiltiness.
2. Ifapersonisnegativelylookingintoanotherperson’seye,thenitcreatesaprobleminthe
communication.
3. Eyecontactisconsideredasakindofdis-behaviourinsomesocietiesoftheworld.
4. Lookingatthespeakercontinuouslywithoutanyeyemovementforalongtimealsolacksin
thecommunication.

8. Suggestions For Using Eye Contact
Effectively:
1. Useeyecontacttocommunicateinterestandattention,butrememberthatsomepeopleare
comfortablewithdirecteyecontactwhileothersarenot.
2. Eyecontactcanbemisunderstood,sobesensitivetotheother’spersonsreactiontoavoid
miscommunication.
3. Payattentiontoanyunspokenculturalrulesforeyecontactandadaptyourbehaviours
accordingly.