Communication Barrier with Eye Contact for other Cultures
Emigrating from India to the United States and adjusting to its environment, culture, and social norms has been an exciting learning experience for me. I was born and brought up in India where I spent the first 14 years of my life before I immigrated to America in July, 1998. For the past six years I have been learning and observing the American cultures, mainstream ideas, customs, beliefs, and norms. After every passing year I learn something new about the American culture and adapt to it. I remember the time when I was adapting to looking people in the eye and trying my best to maintain proper eye contact with another person. It was an awkward learning experience. Human beings in general use eye contact as a non-verbal tool of communication, but the way people use eye contact changes from place to place because of differences in environment, customs, and traditions. Growing up in an Asian Indian culture, I know that all Indians prefer minimal eye contact. It's considered rude in my culture to look other people directly in the eye, especially adults. In India, a lot of importance is given to politeness, obedience, and respect towards adults. Anyone older than you should be looked up to or respected. For example: when I am havin
All youngsters and teenagers in India must follow this custom. I was not scared, just uncomfortable. I wonder what other social norms are still out there for me to learn. I looked up a little higher, still not making any eye contact with her. But going about my daily activities I started to observe that Americans really did prefer a more direct eye contact compared to Indians. On the other hand an Indian might think making too much eye contact is oppressive or rude, which is also true of other Eastern cultures. I was personally very appreciative of the fact that she brought this to my knowledge. Once I had mastered the complex language, with all the trendy American slang (for e. Once I felt comfortable making eye contact with her, it became easier for me to do it with other teachers and adults. If you don't make eye contact, people might think that you are shady or are tying to hide something. Pitts talked to me I started to realize that Americans felt that if they make eye contact with another person, then that person is interested in them or what they have to say. All my beliefs soon changed when I moved to America. Pitts, I started to practice making eye contact. The reason I didn't make eye contact with adults before was not because I was shy; it was just mainly due to the culture I grew up in.
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