ocular dialect

© 2014 MERKLE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL

“These lovely lamps, these windows of the soul.” -Guillamme de Salluste


65-93%meaning derived from nv communication


30-60%normal levels of eye contact (aka mutual gaze)

4© 2015 MERKLE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL

Cooperative Eye Hypothesis

sclera facilitates stronger communication


Why is eye contact so important?

recognizable social meanings



emotional context



perceptions of intelligence, competence, attractiveness, confidence, etc.


eye behaviors learned & innate


Learned

eye aversion as a sign of respect


Innate

eye blocking = universal


Innate

pupil dilation is a sign of the autonomic nervous system revving up


Innate

extended direct gaze activates the amygdala (and can induce anxiety)


Innate

gaze aversion improves cognitive processing during “high load” periods


Tips


Eye contact & You

Amount of eye contact given by a public speaker affected audience members perceptions. When speakers engaged in high levels of eye contact, they were rated more favorably. (Beebe 1974)


Tips

facing large audiences make eye contact with the center and corners of the room.


Tips


“The eyes of men converse as much as their tongues, with the advantage that the ocular dialect needs no dictionary, but is understood the world over.” – RWE

ocular dialect

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