Gaze

Where are you Looking? Investigating if one can detect which specific facial features are being observed.

Abstract

A multitude of research has illustrated the importance of gaze and its many roles in nonverbal communication. Although less work has been devoted into investigating whether gaze can accurately be detected, studies have shown that head orientation (Gibson & Pick, 1963) and distance (Von Cranach & Ellgring 1973) between targets impacts our ability to adeptly recognize the direction of gaze. This study aimed to expand on such research and determine whether participants could identify which of their facial features were being observed. Participants alternated between fixating on facial targets and attempting to detect these fixations. Targets situated on the periphery of the face i.e. ears and hair, had a higher percentage of correct responses and participants showed the greatest response bias towards the eyes. These findings show that participants often mistook eye gaze as eye directed and that distance impacted accuracy, as targets that were more isolated were more accurately identified.

Introduction

Nonverbal communication and all of its components are crucial in conveying a vast amount of information. Facial expressions, personal space, tone of voice, body language and gaze are all used by humans in order to transmit and elicit information. Research can be traced back to Duchenne de Boulogne who generated the theory that expression in man was unique, rather endowed to our race (Hecht & Ambady, 1999). This was soon countered by Darwin (1872), who emphasised that humans as well as animals express the same emotions with the same movements independently of culture or race, a view which remains widely accepted and appreciated today. Studies have specialised on the use of gesture (Wundt, 1900) and its importance, as well as body language in social psychology. Psychologists began to investigate the functions of gaze in the 60s, Exline (1965) examined the differing patterns of looking when speaking and listening (Exline, Gray, & Schuette, 1965). Hess (1975) published a series of interesting studies on pupil dilation and its causes in the Scientific American and Michael Argyle concentrated on the role of nonverbal signals in transmitting attitudes, with a particular study of gaze and how it relates to conversational distance (Hecht & Ambady, 1999)

The use of eye contact and gaze is fundamental in a variety of diverse social situations. It is significant in humans, because gaze allows communication of a variety of emotions and signals, it can be said that you “glare” or “peer.” Thus gaze as a component of nonverbal communication can be used from anything to taking control or implying affection. In regards