elevators- why is it that no one makes eye contact?

Question

has anyone else noticed this?

you step in to an elevator and everyone intently focuses at the changing floor numbers, almost as though their very lives depend on it.
a stare so intense it could be the new source of energy.

why are we so scared to look around and simply smile at the person standing next to us?

i tried doing this one time, and the person looked about ready to have a heart attack!

i read somewhere, its because of the closed space that suddenly your "personal bubble" has been invaded, so you automatically feel threatened...

hmm any thoughts on this?

arfblat- lol that sounds like a good experiment :P
anyone else tried something like that?

Answer 1

In the Orient lack of eye contact is a cultural thing. It is a sign of respect and non-invasion of the other persons space. It is so crowded over there they have to have some rules to maintain dignity and honor.

Over here, I think it is just the workaday world and that little bit of quiet time before you are hit with a barrage of demands by your boss, the customer, the CEO, etc.

I've worked at a space biz place and I made it a practice to look people in the eye and grin. Margaret Thatcher actually came up to me and spoke to me because of that.

I also worked in a hospital and a lot of patients are transferred from floor to floor and to various procedures and they really do appreciate a friendly smile and an acknowledgment of their presence on this planet. I know the phenomena of which you write, but I ignore it. People are flat out interesting. Generally it takes some one to break the ice. Or to at least smile.

Answer 2

My husband is chronically ill, so we have spent a lot of years frequently going up and down and down and up in hundreds of elevators since all doctors seem to never have offices on the first floor!!! LOL We have both often observed how funny people act in elevators and make it a point to smile, make brief eye contact and simply say "hi" while stepping into "the box". We have been amazed at some of the reactions, but overall, most people seem to appreciate being acknowledged in a friendly, non-threatening way. I find it rewarding when someone's face lights up with a genuine smile in return! Life would be infinitely more pleasant if everyone made it a point to smile at someone at least 10 times a day!! Heck, ok... once a day?? Pretty please??? :o)

Answer 3

So, if making eye contact was the accepted norm, then how would it begin and happen?

Meaning, if there are ten people in an elevator and there was a "cultural imperative" for each person to look into the eyes of each and every other person -- before anyone got to their floor -- and then had to repeat and/or begin this cultural routine again each and every time someone new got on...

...can you just imagine what it would be like to ride an elevator?

Also, I think there is also an 'unspoken' reason why others don't make eye-to-eye contact. And that is, if at the moment they did and you or the other person experienced an "gaseous leak" -- then there would be no doubt in each of your minds who was to blame!

Seriously tho -- the environment of the elevator is not the only place where eye-to-eye contact is not encouraged -- it's pretty much the standard throughout our culture -- except for very specific instances where "intimacy" is desired or required.

Why?

Ask yourself what is "seen" when one looks intently into the eyes of another for any length of time.

How does the saying go?

"...the eyes are the windows to the soul..."?

Regards,

Answer 4

I always thought it was because everyone thinks that they'll never see anyone in the elevator again, unless it's a family member, or a friend. It's like one of those first glance, last look. No one wants to get attached, even if it is a glance, to anyone that they are probably never going to see again.
I don't think anyone smiles, though, because it's kind of weird to walk into a closed space, and the first thing you see is someone smiling at you. In our society, you usually see things that are negative, not happy. I have to admit though, I would like it if someone smiled at me when I entered the elevator. Nice question

Answer 5

Ahaaha I don't know why exactly, all I know is that it's a social norm... But in my psych class we had to do a project where we broke a social norm and one person got in an elevator with someone and stood right next to them instead of on the other side... I don't remember what happened exactly but the thought is hilarious because it's one of those things that we "just don't do."

I don't know if eye contact has to do with your personal bubble though, because I've been in rather large elevators and still notice this eye-aversion phenomenon...

Answer 6

I live in a friendly part of the country. Everybody is nice and smiles. But after you punch your button, you are all facing the same direction. I think you can over analyze this. There is something to that personal space violation. But threatened? Come on now.

Answer 7

i agee with alot of these anwsers because, eyes give more emotion away, you have to be very skilled to cover up what your feeling in your eyes. also the "first glance last look" is true, i look at people and, i may talk to them then want to wish them a nice life, because im not going to see this person again. and even if i do, there's a slim chance of remembering. i make it a point to look people in the eyes when i talk to them, that's how i was raised. and if they dont look back at me, i can still look at them. but being in an elevator for what 40 seconds isnt exactly a time to make life long friends.

Answer 8

Great question!! I had to laugh outloud when I read it because it is soooooooooooo true!!! i ride in an elevator everyday at my place of work and i think it is because ppl have secret fantasies of making out with a stranger on an elevator so when they are in there, it is on their mind so they cannot make eye contact or else they feel everyone could tell what they were wanting to do at that moment. teehee :)

Answer 9

I can not stand casual conversation. Nice day, warm enough for you, see the game last night. Of course no 20 second elevator ride would be complete without the obligatory "How ya doin?" Guess what? I don't care how you are doin and you really don't care how I am doin. So I will continue to study the tops of my shoes so I don't have to waste my breath over useless conversation.

Answer 10

I think Brian has a point. We have eye contact to enagage the other person in some form of exchange. That exchange can be negative or positive. If we just aren't interested in any interaction, we avoid eyes. It just means "I want to keep to myself here, nothing against you".