Eye Contact and Distance: A Re-Examination of Measurement Problems

Abstract

Results supportive of Argyle and Dean's (1965) equilibri um theory prediction, relating eye contact and interpersonal distance, have been questioned on methodological grounds. Specifically, the criticism suggests that eye contact only appears to increase with in creased distance between interacting pairs because the observer dis tance also increases and results in overestimation due to decreased discriminability. An evaluation of the evidence on the measurement artifact itself suggests that it is a concern only in contrived set tings involving programmed directional gaze and not in situations involving visual interaction between naive subjects.