Research confirms the power of gaze: when someone looks in the eyes, palms sweat, the other person becomes more attentive
The look is an important communication tool. If not used, social situations can be superficial or complex. For example, if during a job interview a candidate does not look into the eyes of the employer, then he may be left without a job.
Psychologist and lecturer at the University of Tampere Terhi Helminen in her dissertation investigated the effect of eye contact on the alertness and attention of the interlocutor. Studies conducted with representatives of various age groups have shown that gaze can have an impact on the level of vigor of another person, and through it - on memory and learning ability.
The gaze of another causes alertness
According to Terhi Helminen, a person becomes alert and tense when someone looks in his direction. This is recorded by devices that cannot be fooled.
“When a person becomes more alert, his palms are covered with sweat a little more than usual. Sweat affects the electrical conductivity of the skin, and changes can be detected by small sensors that are attached to the fingers,”explains Helminen.
The sweating of the palms cannot be consciously influenced, since the secretion of sweat is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which does not depend on the will and desires of a person. This property is used when testing with a lie detector.
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Sweating is also not related to a person's belonging to different cultural strata, although the gaze has different social significance in different cultures. When the level of alertness rises, the autonomic nervous system causes the hands to be covered in sweat regardless of the desire of everyone, everywhere.
When someone looks at you, your pulse slows down
Contrary to popular belief, research has shown that gazing can slow a person's heart rate down for a while.
“With increased attention, the pulse slows down. This happens when someone looks at you. The more closely a person looks at you, the more the pulse slows down,”says Helminen.
“The pulse slows down for only a few seconds. Then it speeds up again."
The autonomous nervous system also works here regardless of the wishes of its owner. The drop in heart rate is culturally independent.
The slowing down of the pulse can be partially explained by the fact that in the event of a catastrophe, some freeze, and some begin to actively act. The pulse of a numb person is slowed down for a longer time, the pulse of an active person jumps up.
The teacher's gaze is encouraging - or vice versa
When you're in the right mindset, you do better at tasks. Everything new is assimilated better, and memory does not fail. Do students improve their academic performance if they feel that the teacher is looking directly at them?
Terhi Helminen cannot give a final answer to this question. The look may seem unpleasant.
“A look will cheer up a tired student, but if he is already overexcited, then this may already be superfluous. And if the question is very difficult, the look may seem oppressive."
“Many look aside when it is necessary to strain and seriously consider the issue. It's a common occurrence,”says Helminen, recalling the time to think.
According to the researcher, the gaze is often used without even thinking about its effect on another person.
"The look matters, for example, in a classroom: does the teacher look at the students when explaining, or only at the blackboard and computer."
Why does an autistic child look away?
Terhi Helminen's work also focuses on autism in children and their recovery.
“The third section of the thesis is the result of my clinical research. Why don't autistic children want to make eye contact? I wondered if direct eye contact was painful or even unpleasant for them.”
During her research, Helminen observed young children from two to five years old, many of whom still could not speak. They were shown pictures. The same was done with usually developing children.
In addition to the sensors that measure the heart rate, the children's reactions were monitored using a camera that records eye movements.
“Healthy children or children with developmental disabilities who did not have autism slowed their heart rate in the same way as adults when they were looked at. It did not slow down in autistic children. From this I concluded that the gaze is not a socially important element of communication for them,”says Terhi Helminen.
“On the other hand, it is not unpleasant for them either. If that were so, their bullets would also slow down for a short time.
You can learn to use your eyes
Helminen says autistic children can be trained to use their eyes. But you need to know exactly how to do it.
“Previously, they were forced to meet the eyes of others, even turned their heads. You can't do that. Teaching must be careful and positive."
Terhi Helminen says that she gave advice to parents on how pleasant and unobtrusive it is to teach their autistic children to look others in the eye.
“Mom or Dad can tickle, recite, sing, or do anything that the child particularly loves. Then the parents should stop doing this and only continue after the child has looked at them. This will help the child know that the enjoyable activity will continue if eye contact is made.”
Reija Grönroos