Eye-Contact, Distance and Affiliation
Abstract
Previous evidence suggests that eye-contact serves a number of different functions in two-person encounters, of which one of the most important is gathering feed-back on the other person's reactions. It is further postulated that eye-contact is linked to affiliative motivation, and that approach and avoidance forces produce an equilibrium level of physical proximity, eyecontact and other aspects of intimacy. If one of these is disturbed, compensatory changes may occur along the other dimensions. Experiments are reported which suggest that people move towards an equilibrium distance, and adopt a particular level of eye-contact. As predicted, there was less eyecontact and glances were shorter, the closer two subjects were placed together (where one member of each pair was a confederate who gazed continuously at the other). The effect was greatest for opposite-sex pairs. In another experiment it was found that subjects would stand closer to a second person when his eyes were shut, as predicted by the theory.
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We tend to expand our personal space if a person establishes eye contact with us.
“and we tend to expand our PS if a person establishes eye-contact with us (Argyle and Dean, 1965).”
From Oxytocin Modulates Social Distance between Males and Females (2012) · cites this paper as Argyle and Dean, 1965
If a robot displays behaviors mismatching the perceived intimacy level, it may induce feelings of unease and arouse more rejections or conflicts during the interaction.
“If Olivaw displays behaviors mismatching the perceived intimacy level (E2.2 errors in adjusting behaviors according to social contexts), for instance standing too close to a first-time visitor while having a conversation, it may induce feelings of unease in the person and arouse more rejections or conflicts during the interaction [6].”
From A Taxonomy of Social Errors in Human-Robot Interaction (2021) · cites this paper as [6]
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“, 2008) and we tend to expand our PS if a person establishes eye-contact with us (Argyle and Dean, 1965).”
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- Authors
- Argyle, M., & Dean, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Venue
- Sociometry
- Publisher
- JSTOR
- Published
- 1965-09
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 289
- ISSN
- 0038-0431 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1600099874
- Cited by
- 1,779
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 46 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 64 · 2023: 61 · 2022: 53 · 2021: 83 · 2020: 54 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 80 · 2017: 60 · 2016: 60 · 2015: 55 · 2014: 51 · 2013: 57 · 2012: 55
- FWCI
- 23.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sociometry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
- Keywords
- eye contact, interpersonal distance, affiliation, physical proximity, approach-avoidance behavior, intimacy, gaze, social feedback
- MeSH terms
- Communication, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Psychology, Social, Vision, Ocular
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