Eye contact shows interest — both positive and negative.
When you look someone in the eyes, it sets an arousal state in the body.
“How that arousal is interpreted, however, depends on the parties involved and the circumstances,” writes Claremont McKenna College organizational psychologist Ronald E. Riggio.
“Being stared at by a stranger who appears large or ominous can be seen as a threat and elicit a fear response,” he continues. “However, the gaze of a potential sexual partner causes arousal that can be interpreted positively – as a sexual invitation.”
