What do you look at when you talk to people?

Question

Do you look at their mouths, their eyes, nose? Or maybe something else? And does it depend on who you are speaking to?

Answer 1

Depends on the person I'm speaking to and what I'm doing. Most Americans want to look at the eyes/face and if in an appropriate area I can see it.

It drives me nuts when the driver of a car has to look at the passenger. I'd prefer that they pay attention to the road believe me I'm not insulted if you don't look at me while you're driving!

I've been called rude at work because I find nothing wrong with continuing to work while being addressed. My ears are perfectly fine and I can work and listen at the same time but not all are comfortable with that concept. So I have to stop, look and listen sighhh Great...betty-sue is dating bubba...nice to know...now can I get back to work please...jeshhhh

Answer 2

Usually, their eyes. But if the conversation is too long, I might also look at the rest of their face, so as not to make the impression I'm staring at them. Besides, here in Argentina, we tend to move our hands a lot when we speak, so when the other person is speaking, I sometimes see the movement of their hands.

And I don't think it depends on the person. Perhaps, if it's a pretty woman, I might feel rather intimidated to look at her face too much, so I might look away every now and then. But that would be it. I don't mind looking at my superiors in the eyes, for example. Or to unknown people I've just met.

Answer 3

It depends a bit on the circumstances, but I generally watch people's face, mostly their mouth. I don't hear very well, so it helps me to watch their mouth to follow up with what they're saying, especially when there are other sounds around.

My closest family is an exception. When I talk to them I don't always watch them in the face, because we often talk while doing something else and they talk so loud that I have no problems hearing them and we don't mind the lack of eye contact while talking.

Answer 4

Whatever strange features that person has - buck teeth, wart, braces.

Oh where do other people look? Depends on the culture. Australian aborigines traditionally look well away from the person they're talking to, something that Europeans interpreted as submission or guilt.

More assertive cultures like American ones expect eye contact..

Answer 5

Yes, all of the above. In general, if this is someone you've just met, you are looking at their face. This includes the eyes, mouth, nose, etc.

Answer 6

BEING POLITE in conversations VARIES ACCORDING TO CULTURE.

1. America: Look them in the eyes
2. Philippines, Korea, Japan: Look down and once in a while in the eyes.
3. Others: Look elsewhere

SO, ask the person what makes him comfortable when someone is talking to him and do that.

Answer 7

Eyes.

Answer 8

I can't look someone in the face, I've been told it's a sign of low self esteem but I don't know. I've tried but I feel like passing out. But I can look someone in the eyes when they're looking in a mirror. It's best to look someone directly in the eyes, otherwise they think you're lying to them or you have something to hide from them, take it from me. So I've learned with people I don't know to look at their foreheads, they think I'm looking in their eyes but I have a faraway look in my face. It helps to establish trust with new people.

Answer 9

I look into their eyes and I am sure I look at their mouth as well when they talk.

Answer 10

The eyes are the "windows to the soul". People who do not look you in the eye are usually insecure or dishonest.