We cannot imagine the development of humanity without interpersonal relationships because it is the factor that brings us together. It has been rightly said that “United we stand, divided we fall” as humans cannot sustain and bring positive changes in their life alone. There are so many factors that influence interpersonal relationships, and eye contact is one of them.
The eyes of every human come in various colours, including brown, green, blue, hazel, etc., and you must have noticed it while talking to others. But differentiating between colours does not remain the priority of humans. There are many more important priorities for them that the eyes fulfil. When we look into the eyes of others while communicating, it brings a sense of trust and mutual understanding. As a result, the interpersonal relationship develops.
Most of us believe that eyes are to enjoy the beauty of our surroundings. But the functions of the eyes are not narrow to sensing the lights and directing them to the brain for converting them into vision. It acts as a mode of communication as a person can understand the thoughts of others without any verbal exchange. Moreover, it reflects the psychological condition of the human and also indicates many intentions while interacting. Proper eye contact nullifies the communication barriers to a certain extent, which eventually improves the two individuals’ interpersonal relationships.
Have you experienced such awkwardness due to improper eye contact?
Eye contact is a tricky task that may put you in an awkward or uncomfortable situation if not done properly. If yes, then you will agree that it is a skill in which mastery is quite tough. That is why; students learn to maintain eye contact in schools, as it is an essential communication skill. It also helps the young students to have a good bonding with their teachers and peers.
Significance of eye contact in each kind of interpersonal relationship
We have developed natural behaviour and instinct that helps us bring the interpersonal elements in every relationship. The significance of our body language, including eye contact, differs based on the type of interpersonal relationship.
Numerous students who are enrolled in the various courses of interpersonal and communication skills attain online assignment help from the professionals to learn its more advanced aspects. It allows them to precisely using body language to have interpersonal relationships with various people. The types of interpersonal relationships are determined based on the mutual expectations between two people lifestyles. Generally, it has been divided into multiple types, and the significance of eye contact varies in each of them. The following is the list:-
Significance of Eye Contact Varies
- Friendship is one of the interpersonal relationships where the significance of eye contact is not as necessary as in other relationships. It is because friendship is considered as unconditional acceptance of people where the interaction remains informal. You can stare or neglect eye contact with your friends as per your mood.
- The other type of interpersonal relationship covers family members where many individuals remain present. So, the eye contact with each member differs based on their designation in the family. For instance, you may find it peculiar while making eyes with your father but can easily do with your siblings.
- The professional relationship between two individuals is found in workplaces where you have to be quite aware of eye contact. Nobody likes to misinterpret by their colleagues, so formal touch in eye contact becomes crucial for better interpersonal relationships in the office.
- Love is a kind of interpersonal relationship where the two individuals attract each other based on their physical appearance or behaviour and gradually develop a sense of internal attachment. In this relationship, eye contact is to show care, respect, love, and intimacy.
You will come across many more interpersonal relationships like Platonic, Acquaintances, and Casual relationships where the meaning of eye contact varies significantly. According to the professionals of assignment help Melbourne on which numerous students rely heavily, the nuances of eye contact are quite complex to understand and implement. It is mainly because eye contact depends on the individual’s instinct and is quite tough to control.
Importance of eye contact in communication
- You may have observed that eye contact plays a vital role in initiating the conversation. For instance, if you are sitting on a bus and make eye contact with the passenger in front of you, then chances are high that you will greet him.
- When you maintain eye contact for a prolonged period, it reflects your credibility and dominance over others. It can observe in the classroom where teachers look at their students for a long time.
- Besides, students often hesitate to make eye contact with their professors and blink their eyes consistently. Although, this may consider as a lack of eye contact it also reflects politeness.
- Many people advise that you should only maintain eye contact with high-status people while talking to them and opt for less eye contact while listening to their instructions. It shows your respect towards them.
- When the duration of your eye contact is for an excessive amount of time, then it is appraising staring. It indicates hostility.
Wrapping Up
You may be thinking that eye contact is quite essential for improving interpersonal relationships, but at the same time, it is tough as well. But you will surprise by the fact that eye contact is the first mode of communication that infants opt to interact with their surroundings. Despite this, when they grow up, they find it tough to maintain eye contact properly. This happens with all of us, and the main reason behind it is the increased number of interpersonal relationships and the eye contact differences between each of them.
As we have already discussed the various kinds of interpersonal relationships. We know that it is obvious to have difficulties maintaining eye contact impeccably. We must have to understand that eye contact is instinctive and its proper use totally depends on our comfort. It has been observing that we easily make eye contact with those whose presence gives us comfort and find it difficult with those whose company makes us nervous. But we can counter the nervousness by practising eye contact with the particular individual and change it into comfort.
