When you’re talking to someone, do you make consistent eye contact or does your gaze often wander? How we engage with others through our eyes can tell a lot about our internal feelings and anxieties.
Jiemiao Chen, a developmental psychologist, recently used cutting-edge wearable eye-trackers to understand the relationship between social anxiety and eye contact. Here’s what she found.
The Spectrum of Social Anxiety
Everyone feels nervous in certain social situations. But for some, the fear of judgment or negative evaluation can be overwhelming.
This severe form is known as Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). However, as Chen points out, social anxiety exists on a spectrum: “Some people hardly suffer from social anxiety, others suffer a lot.”
Inspired by seeing close friends struggle with these feelings during her Master’s studies in Shanghai, Chen decided to delve deeper into the subject. To do so, she traveled to Leiden for her Ph.D. research.
Avoiding the Gaze: A Safety Net?
It’s often observed that people with social anxiety tend to avoid making eye contact during conversations. According to Chen, this could be seen as a tactic to feel safe during social interactions.
Ironically, this very strategy that’s supposed to help them fit in might make them seem more out of place, further fueling their anxieties.
Chen’s studies brought an interesting observation to light: while individuals with SAD might avoid eye contact in most scenarios, those with milder social anxiety might exhibit this behavior only in certain situations.
To understand this better, Chen turned to wearable eye-trackers that could precisely measure eye movements in real-time during genuine social interactions.
Experiments Reveal Gaze Patterns
In one experiment, participants were asked to either deliver a speech in front of a projected audience or simply observe the audience.
Those with social anxiety tended to avoid looking at the audience only when they were speaking. In contrast, individuals with SAD would even avoid looking at a still image of people.
A more interactive experiment involved one-on-one conversations on topics ranging from casual chit-chat about favorite holidays to more personal topics like recalling the last time they cried in public.
Chen noticed that participants, especially those with high social anxiety, tended to avoid eye contact more during intimate parts of the conversation.
Gaze Behavior: A Window to Social Anxiety
Chen’s research concludes that while people with social anxiety do avoid eye contact, this behavior is adaptable based on the situation.
This insight offers a potential early indicator for those at risk of developing Social Anxiety Disorder. However, it’s vital to understand that situational factors play a crucial role.
Currently, Chen continues her research journey, now focusing on understanding eye contact behavior in children.
As she rightly states, there’s still much to uncover about the simple yet profound act of making eye contact.
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