Eye Contact

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I don't like eye contact in general though there are a small portion of people that it's easier to look in the eyes than others, it just generally makes it more difficult to concentrate on what they are saying and what I am going to say.

This is me. All of it.

Question. Why do people insist in eye contact anyway? Why is it so important to people. Why do they want to see my eyeballs as I speak to them? Strange eh? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Hate it. Feels very awkward and uncomfortable, even during a video chat. As stated above, why do people insist on staring directly into my eyeballs? They're nothing special. As far as I know, they're just ordinary, everyday eyeballs.

I don't even consciously think about eye contact.

This is very much a part of being on the spectrum, GI. I believe that the majority of us have impaired eye contact, as listed in the DSM-5.

That being as follows:
(A) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:

1. marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction.
2. failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level.
3. a lack of sponatneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people, (eg., by a lack of showing, bringing, and pointing out objects of interest to other people).
4. lack of social or emotional reciprocity.

So, eye contact can be made or not made. Also eye contact can be learned(which doesn't make it any less uncomfortable!).

I can only enliken it to "death rays" !

I find making almost eye contact works for me (look at the forehead, for example). Also, I've less problem as I age.

Thanks for the 90% number. I knew 100% is no good but didn't know how low to go. I've probably been doing like 75% lately, anyhow.

I've learned to make eyebrow contact. Does that count, or isn't it close enough?

I have TOO MUCH eye contact... I think eyes are pretty and one of the first things I notice about people is what color their eyes are... I have enough other aspie characteristics I guess though that people guess I'm aspie... Weird.

Was disciplined seriously when young for not making eye contact , so learned eyebrow contact then managed to link voice stress to occasional eye contact as time went on . Change of inflection or tone meant to watch .Taking note of things about these items seemed prudent but mostly , Listened to the application of words and how they are used.
Think I rather enjoy the company of animals . Their sounds And eyes are usually honest , people eyes and sounds can be misleading sometimes .

Animals are easier, especially cats and dogs! Cats are funny. They don't have to talk.

My psychiatrist is always trying to make me make eye contact. Even though he knows it's difficult for me.

I actually tend to look people in the eye waaaaay too much. My eye contact is very intense and over-sustained.

99% of a conversation I don't make eye contact. Around when I turned 30 I decided understanding the conversation was more important, plus it's more comfortable this way. Nobody has commented on it for years.

Absolutely. It's honestly way more awkward to try and maintain eye contact the entire time, and this is something I've also struggled with at times so I just started watching what other people do and they always look away.

I've learned to fake a lot of eye contact, as it began to torque me that I *couldn't* do it (I don't like not being able to do something). And as I've gotten older I'm more comfortable with it overall. But there are still times - usually when I'm tired, or under stress, etc - when it's harder or even impossible.