Eyes and eye contact

17 cards in this category — of which 16 complete, 1 drafts.

• Direct Eye Contact in JapanIn the West, direct eye contact signals attentiveness and honesty. In Japan, South Korea, and China, sustained gaze toward a superior is perceived as disrespectful or aggressive.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Intense Eye Contact in Arab CulturesIn Arab cultures, direct and sustained eye contact between interlocutors signals sincerity, respect, and engagement. A Westerner who avoids gaze may be perceived as dishonest or uninterested.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Le regard lowered/down mixte (islam pratiquant)A Muslim man who looks down at a foreign woman is respecting a religious norm. She may see it as contempt. Two readings of the same lowering: purity vs. contempt.
  CompleteCuriosity
• The Eye Roll: Contempt or CondescensionRolling the eyes upward expresses contempt, exasperation, or condescension in Western cultures. This gesture, absent or poorly codified in several East Asian cultures, can be interpreted as intentional insubordination by unfamiliar interlocutors.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Meeting eyes in the street (USA / Southern Europe)Staring at someone for 3 seconds on the street in New York: a challenge; in Naples: a greeting. Two geographies, two meanings of the same look.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Staring at an unknown baby (Scandinavia vs. Latin America)A Brazilian woman smiles at an unfamiliar baby; a Swedish woman looks away. Physically identical, emotionally opposed.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Pointing (Malay/Indonesian)Malays and Indonesians point with their eyes. Finger outstretched = vulgar. Stranger sees nothing. Two codes, two worlds.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Close your eyes and listen (USA vs. non-Western cultures)Indian student closes eyes while listening to teacher: commitment. Same student in the USA: insult. Silent eyelids speak two languages.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Averting Gaze Before an Elder (West Africa)Nigerian youth looks down before his father: respect. Same young man in the USA: suspicious. Silent gaze means two opposite things depending on culture.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Gaze Aversion (Native North American Peoples)A young Navajo lowers his eyes before an elder: deep respect. Same gesture before an American judge: suspicion of guilt. One gesture, two opposite readings.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Raising the eyebrow to say no (Italian vs. Northern European)Italian raises eyebrow loudly: "No". Swedish: "Pardon? One millimeter of muscle expresses two realities.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Lowering the Gaze Before Elders (Korea)A young Korean lowers their eyes before their mother: filial respect. Same gesture before an American superior: suspicion of guilt. One gesture, two opposite readings.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Longing/flirtation (Arab vs. Western)Languorous Arab gaze: courteous flirtation. Same Western gaze: aggression/objectification. Desire speaks two languages.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Read the Indonesian smile (joy vs discomfort)Indonesian employee smiles: does she accept? Is she happy? Uncomfortable? The smile hides as much as it reveals.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Raising the head with eyebrows to say no (Turkish/Balkan)Turk raises eyebrow: "No". English: "Did you hear me? A millimeter of muscle expresses two realities.
  CompleteCuriosity
• Direct eye contact vs. authority (Spain vs. Anglo-Saxon West)Young Spaniard looks directly at teacher as a sign of respect. Same look in England: perceived impertinence. Same muscle, two codes.
  CompleteMisunderstanding
• Le clin d'œil de séduction (Asie de l'Est)Un clin d'œil dans un bureau tokyoïte : inconvenance certifiée.
  DraftMisunderstanding