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Is keeping eye contact attractive?

Eye contact is an important, natural component of communication used to convey liking and attraction. Locking eyes play a role in reducing uncertainty within initial romantic interactions. Eye contact has no direct effect on romantic attraction but enhances self-disclosure.

psychologytoday.com - The Romantic Power of Eye Contact | Psychology Today

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Do you really know who the “One” is? Your true Soulmate?

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We have all heard the advice: pay attention to your dining companion on a first date if you want a second. That means not looking at your phone but your partner/ prospective paramour. But does that mean you have to look them in the eye? And if so, can there be too much of a good thing? Research reveals some surprising, relevant results.

The Eyes Have It—Or Do They?

Emmelyn A. J. Croes et al. examined the role of eye contact within the context of initial romantic attraction (2020).i They described eye contact as one of the most important nonverbal cues used to communicate affection within romantic attraction and relational development dynamics. Recognizing its role within impression formation, they explain that eye contact plays a role in reducing uncertainty within initial romantic interactions because with more eye contact comes more nonverbal affiliative expressiveness. Accordingly, they recognized eye contact as a critical, natural component of communication used to convey liking and attraction and note that perhaps not surprisingly, mutual romantic attraction sparks more eye contact. But how does it work?

Croes et al. used speed-dating methodology to investigate the impact of eye contact on the development of romantic attraction and the role of interactive uncertainty reduction strategies in the form of self-disclosure and asking questions. Surprisingly, their results found that eye contact had no direct effect on romantic attraction. They did find, however, that within initial interactions, eye contact prompts less uncertainty, and more intimacy, as compared to communications without eye contact. Croes et al. noted that although eye contact within initial interactions does not impact romantic attraction, it affects interaction because communication with eye contact is more nonverbally expressive, given that it enhances self-disclosure. Accordingly, when communicating without eye contact, people tend to ask more questions to reduce uncertainty. Croes et al. found that as expected, with eye contact, people asked fewer questions and the questions were less intimate, suggesting that communicating without eye contact, such as on Skype, creates more uncertainty. They noted that a lack of eye contact creates less informative interaction, which generates more questions. They explained that mutual gaze regulates communication, signals conversational turn-taking, and delivers feedback on receiving and perceiving messages. Without eye contact, more questions may be required to regulate the conversation. Croes et al. also noted that communicating with fewer cues, such as during text-based communication, results in more direct and intimate questioning—the same result when interacting with mutual visibility, but without eye contact. Croes et al. explained that their study results demonstrate that people can still form impressions of attractiveness without direct eye contact in communication situations.

Are Inquiring Minds More Attractive?

Are people more attractive if they ask more questions? Croes et al. reached a somewhat surprising conclusion here, too, discovering that asking questions and self-disclosing did not directly impact romantic attraction—a finding in conflict with prior research on uncertainty reduction, where asking questions and self-disclosing created more intimate interactions and more attraction. However, they distinguish prior studies by the fact that they often focused on different communication modalities, such as text, and longer interaction time than their speed-dating experiment, where participants interacted for only five minutes. Specifically, Croes et al. cited a 2012 research study that found asking questions predicted verbalized affection during the second half of the conversation but not the first, suggesting the development of attraction over time. Getting to know someone in a romantic context is best approached visually and verbally, and the best relationships develop gradually.

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How do you do seductive eye contact?

Give someone a seductive look when they smile back. Making a curved grin with your mouth, glance the person up and down. ... To show the person you like what you see, make eye contact and offer another brief smile. If you want to be more flirty, try winking at the other person.

wikihow.com - 3 Ways to Seduce Someone Using Only Your Eyes - wikiHow

This article was co-authored by Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT . Alysha Jeney is a Licensed Relationship Therapist, the Owner of Modern Love Counseling, and the Co-Founder of The Modern Love Box. She specializes in relationship therapy, intimacy building, and existential exploration. Alysha holds a BA in Psychology from The Metropolitan State University of Denver and an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling from Regis University. She has been featured in publications such as The Washington Post and The Huffington Post. This article has been viewed 1,183,568 times.

Article Summary

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To seduce someone using only your eyes, be the one to initiate eye contact with the other person to show that you're confident. When you look at them, flash them a genuine smile so they know you're friendly and wouldn't mind being approached. If they smile back and seem interested, try glancing them up and down or giving them a seductive look. Don't stare for too long or you could make them feel uncomfortable. Instead, occasionally look back at them and smile to show them that you're still interested. To learn how to seduce someone with your eyes during a conversation, scroll down!

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