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Nomaken
Phoenix
Joined: Jun 10, 2005
Posts: 2059
Location: 31726 Windsor, Garden City, Michigan, 48135
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 Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 5:16 pm Post subject: What is it with the eye contact thing? |
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| Biologically speaking why do aspies have trouble making eye contact? Or isn't it a biological difference? |
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BeeBee
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 01, 2005
Posts: 2257
Location: Upper Midwest, USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
I can't find the article I want...basically it said that when someone on the ADS looks into someone's eye, the part of the brain that responses to threats or handles fears becomes active.
But since I can't find the article and I don't remember the source, that's less than helpful.
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Nomaken
Phoenix
Joined: Jun 10, 2005
Posts: 2059
Location: 31726 Windsor, Garden City, Michigan, 48135
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| Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, it does confirm feelings i have when looking into peoples eyes. I want to look at peoples eyes, but when i'm looking at someone and they look at me i feel like i've been caught. I fear that they were thinking that i was looking at them for a bad reason or something, but when they look at me in the eyes i get really anxious. |
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ed
Forum Moderator
Joined: Dec 20, 2004
Age: 64
Posts: 1000
Location: central Massachusetts
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| Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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| look at their mouths - they can't tell the difference! |
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spacemonkey
Phoenix
Joined: Aug 29, 2004
Posts: 622
Location: Atlanta, Ga
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Bec
Cramazing
Joined: Aug 18, 2004
Age: 21
Posts: 1916
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| Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2005 2:51 am Post subject: |
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| I've never had any problems with eye contact. I wonder why? |
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Sophist
Professor of Pedantry
Joined: Apr 24, 2005
Posts: 6172
Location: St. Louie
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| Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2005 4:57 am Post subject: ... |
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ed, ditto. I look at the mouth/nose area. And unless I am more than a foot away from their face (and sometimes not even then) the other person cannot tell.
However, when I am very anxious, sometimes even looking at the face is impossible. Sigh.
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pizzaboss
Phoenix
Joined: Aug 13, 2004
Posts: 755
Location: Fulton, NY
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| Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2005 11:59 am Post subject: |
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| I tend to look at someone hair or face instead of their eyes. It is a symptom of AS. |
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Alli
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Jun 03, 2005
Posts: 31
Location: Western Australia.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:58 am Post subject: |
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I have the same thing, though find that, if not too anxious, it can sometimes be helpful to look at their eyebrows or forehead. They don't seem to notice the difference, as you were saying!
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Nomaken
Phoenix
Joined: Jun 10, 2005
Posts: 2059
Location: 31726 Windsor, Garden City, Michigan, 48135
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| Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:56 am Post subject: |
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| I am disturbed by only one thing, a picture in a scary stories book, on page 30. I can stand looking at every part of the picture, and i can visualize it in my memory, all except for the eyes. Or lack thereof. Do you suppose the reason i find it so disturbing has to do with aspergers? |
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pyraxis
Phoenix
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Joined: Mar 26, 2005
Posts: 1527
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| Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:42 am Post subject: |
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It might. I remember one similar picture in a book I had as a kid, of this cat-villain-creature coming up the stairs. It terrified me for some odd reason - I'd turn each page a little bit at a time to see if it was on the next page, and if it was, I couldn't look at that page for more than an instant without feeling sick. But now that I think about it, it was the stare that freaked me out.
That study proved that the amygdala reaction happens from pictures as well as real life. So there might be a connection. |
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Tim_p
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Joined: Dec 29, 2004
Posts: 511
Location: Alberta, Canada.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:48 am Post subject: Re: ... |
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| Sophist wrote: | | ...the other person cannot tell... |
Well that's good, I always look at peoples mouths, it's nice to know that they don't notice it and so arn't bothered by it. |
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Feather
Snowy Owl
Joined: May 24, 2005
Posts: 166
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| Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:33 am Post subject: |
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I am really really bad at eye contact. For a start it makes me anxious (other posts above have explained why in neurological terms this is the case, thanks!) but I also have quite bad auditory processing delay - I can lip read a bit, and the visual information from lip reading greatly increases my chances of quickly working out what has been said!
If I'm meeting new people or in any other way anxious, the lip reading is likely to be forgotten as at best I can manage to look over their shoulder, at worst will actually turn my head away from them so looking in another direction during conversation. And when I'm not lip-reading my auditory processing problems appear more pronounced so I end up asking people to repeat themselves. Over and over. |
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Namiko
snape-o-doodle
Joined: Jun 14, 2005
Posts: 2439
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| Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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I know this is probably bad, but I don't ever really make any eye contact when I talk. When I do, I can't ever remember what I'm trying to say. My family and close friends all know this, so they've become accostumed to it. However, other people don't see why. Is there any way I can explain it to them without giving them the impression that I'm wierd or something?
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PeterMacKenzie
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Joined: May 16, 2005
Posts: 626
Location: BANNED FOR DISCUSSING RECENT BANNINGS!
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| Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 pm Post subject: |
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When I hold eye contact with someone, I get a massive adrenaline surge. It gives me tunnel vision (my peripheral vision will actually go black if I hold it for long enough), my inhibitions are lowered, I become more agressive, I get dizzy and disorientated, my mental processes accelerate and become more fluid and I become more willing to argue. I also start sweating lots. It only works if I'm feeling fairly good to start with though; if I'm not at my best, it's just uncomfortable and I'll look away.
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