Eye contact serves many purposes during interpersonal communication. We use our eyes to express emotions, signal when it’s someone else’s turn to talk, and show others that we’re listening to them. We also demonstrate our interest in a conversation by increasing our eye contact, or signal relationship intimacy by locking eyes with a close friend or romantic partner.

Eye contact can convey hostility as well. One of the most aggressive forms of nonverbal expression is prolonged staring—fixed and unwavering eye contact of several seconds’ duration (typically accompanied by a hostile facial expression). Although in the real world women seldom stare, men use this behavior to threaten others, invite aggression (“staring someone down” to provoke a fight), and assert their status (Burgoon, Buller, & Woodall, 1996).