eye contact avoidance
Not meeting looks
Eye contact avoidance is the deliberate or instinctive act of not meeting another person's gaze.
It may signal shyness, discomfort, submission, or deception, though cultural norms vary widely—some cultures consider direct eye contact disrespectful.
In clinical contexts, eye contact avoidance is associated with autism spectrum conditions and social anxiety: The therapist noted his eye contact avoidance during difficult questions.
- gazeFixed, intent look
- shyReserved and retiring
- downcastSad or despondent
- avertPrevent or deflect
- bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
floor · submissive · awkward · nervous · nervous tic · autism · social cues · body language · shame · introvert · evasive · glance · looking down · discomfort · social anxiety · look away · withdrawn · timid
- accommodationsextra time, double time, time and a half, breaks, rest breaks
- Anxietyanxiety, nervousness, panic, worry, generalized anxiety
- learned responsesconditioned reflex, classical conditioning, salivation, aversion, fear response
eye contact avoidanceeye contact
Direct visual connection
staring · steady gaze · fixed stare · locking eyes · gazing
eye contact avoidancedirectness
Quality of being straightforward
assertiveness · confidence · boldness · self-assurance · openness
eyeing, eyeless, contact, contacts, contacted, contacting, contactless, avoid, avoids