Jihyun Kim
Eye Contact
One of the nonverbal codes in
communication is eye contact. It is often included in proxemics because it
regulates interpersonal distance (Martin & Nakayama, 2009). When
communicating with another person, the meaning of making eye contact differs
from culture to culture. It is a nonverbal code, or the eye gaze, that
communicates meanings about respect and status and often regulates turn-taking
during interactions (Martin & Nakayama, 2009). In some cultures, avoiding
eye contact communicates respect and deference. On the other hand, in the U.S.,
Americans believe maintaining eye contact communicates that one is paying
attention and showing respect. However, if the communication is between others,
most U.S. Americans have the tendency to look away from their listeners most of
the time. Alternating their gaze perhaps every 10 to 15 seconds. To let the
listener know when the conversation is complete and it is time to take turn, he
or she looks directly at them.
In the U.S., making eye contact
while communicating with another person is essential in order to build a good
relationship. Whether it takes place at a job, school, when out with friends,
or just basically anywhere else, it is the key to show that you are engaged and
listening to the speaker to show respect. Raised in East Asia, eye contact was
not as familiar to me as it was when I moved to the U.S. There is a difference
when it comes to speaking with my parents compared to speaking with my friend’s
parents. With my family, making eye contact is only used every 15 to 20
seconds, but when I speak to my American friend’s parents I give them my full
attention. It’s somewhat more comfortable to make eye contact with the U.S.
Americans than it is with my own parents. It is not a sign of showing
disrespect when I look at the ground rather than their eyes, but it shows that
I am even more engaged and concentrating on listening even harder. When I look
into their eyes, it sometimes throws me off and the communication dies down.
The concept of nonverbal codes is
useful in ways that it is another way to communicate rather than verbally.
There can be many outcomes from a person’s facial expression, body language, or
just by the use of eye contact when communicating. It is clear to me now why
making eye contact was more difficult with people from Asia than U.S.
Americans. This concept is familiar to me because I have used it for as long as
I can remember. Everyone knows when avoiding eye contact, it signals you do not
want to communicate with them and vice versa. However, I learned that that is
not true for every culture; the use of eye contact varies from culture to culture.
References:
Martin, J.N., & Nakayama, T.K.
(2009). Intercultural Communication in
Contexts (5th Edition ed). New York, NY: McGraww-Hill.
Eye contact is one of the most common nonverbal codes used in intercultural communication. It is tough because the proper etiquette varies quite a bit from culture to culture. I have been studying the Chinese culture and many of the people I've talked to form that culture don't give much eye contact. The Chinese culture believes in giving eye contact to individuals of a higher status or their elders. I thought this was interesting how you presented this though!
ReplyDeleteyeah, i think i know how you feel because i also feels that way. as an asian, we just do short eye contacts. whenever someone do long eye contact with me, i'll feel embarrassed for no specific reason :)
ReplyDeleteIt is true that different areas people have their own way to make eye contact and we do not have unique rules to measure everyone. So people usually have misunderstandings when multiculture's people get together.
ReplyDeleteI like that you chose eye contact for your blog. I found it very interesting because I know eye contact is different between cultures. You gave me a good example of that.
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