52x52: Make Eye Contact

52 random acts of kindness that each take under 52 seconds. One action each week, over a year takes less than an hour of your life

How many times do you say 'Thank you' in passing in the day. Probably at least ten.

But how many times do you make eye-contact when you do?

Try it. 'Makes all the difference.

Psychology Today, talks about it's importance in The Secrets of Eye Contact, Revealed, by Martin.

According to Ruth Davidhizar (1992) eye contact can be used positively to:

• ascertain need
• communicate attentiveness and concern
• indicate interpersonal interest
• offer support
• evaluate response to approaches (p.222)

And lack of eye contact is not just a lack of the above but can indicate:

• lack of interest or concern
• lack of agreement
• preoccupation with some matter (Ibid)

So what do you want to communicate?
 
Davidhizar, R. (1992) Interpersonal Communication: A Review of Eye Contact, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, Vol. 13, No. 4 (Apr., 1992), pp. 222-225