Posted by Dinah on December 19, 2004, at 16:26:48
In reply to Re: Oh thanks, but..., posted by anastasia56 on December 19, 2004, at 16:20:33
I know intellectually that eye contact is considered polite in this culture. Lack of eye contact is seen as a bit strange.
But in my gut, I feel that it is rude to make eye contact. That it is intruding upon someone else, forcing them into closer contact than either of us might wish. It seems very intimate to me, and something that should be reserved for those we feel intimacy with. I don't even make eye contact with my therapist.
I have real difficulties overriding what my gut feels with what my brain knows, so I rarely make eye contact.
Since my beliefs are so out of keeping with our culture, and even though I understand this, my therapist considers it one of my schizotypal, "eccentric" to put it more politely, traits.
poster:Dinah
thread:431209
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20041218/msgs/431747.html