Making eye contact.
Westerners prefer to look directly into each other’s eyes,for some of the time,when they are talking.
We are trained to believe that if people will not “look you in the eye” they can not be trusted.
However,many people,for cultural or personal reasons,find it embarrassing,too personal,too intimate,or not respectful,to look directly at another person’s eyes.
A lot of information is actually exchanged between people when they look at each other,which is why some find it difficult.
It may be hard to look directly at someone you think is attractive,someone who is maybe dangerous,someone who looks strange,or someone in authority.
But you can not just look down.
You have to be careful where you look.If you look at lower parts of the body,you may offend the other person.
This can cause serious trouble.Male teachers,for instance,are trained to be very careful where they look when speaking to teenage girls.
The safest and most comfortable way to look at someone else is to look above their eyes.
That way,you seem to be giving polite attention,but you are not giving or receiving personal or negative messages,because the eyes are not connecting fully.