Understanding Eye Blocking Body Language - Meaning and Interpretation

What is Eye Blocking Body Language?

Eye blocking body language refers to gestures and movements that a person makes with their eyes or around their eyes that seem to “block” communication. This type of nonverbal behavior can indicate that someone is feeling uncomfortable, trying to conceal information, or being deceptive in some way.

Some common examples of eye blocking body language include:

• Closing or shielding the eyes
• Looking away or averting gaze
• Rubbing or touching around the eyes
• Frequent blinking
• Hiding the eyes behind sunglasses

These types of gestures tend to shut down communication visually between two people. The eyes are crucial for sharing social and emotional information, so when the eyes are obstructed in some way, it can interfere with effective communication and signal discomfort, disinterest, or dishonesty.

Why Do People Use Eye Blocking Body Language?

There are a few common reasons why someone might display eye blocking body language:

Discomfort or Anxiety

Closing or shielding the eyes can be an instinctive reaction to feeling uncomfortable or anxious. Eye contact can feel threatening or intense for some people, especially those with anxiety disorders or autism. Breaking eye contact helps them alleviate discomfort in social interactions.

Boredom or Disinterest

Looking away or averting gaze can signal that someone is bored, uninterested, or distracted in a conversation. This eye blocking gesture shuts down engagement visually and implies the person wants the interaction to end.

Having to Lie or Conceal the Truth

When someone is being deceptive or lying, they often display eye blocking gestures unconsciously because of the guilt and discomfort associated with lying. Rubbing eyes, blinking frequently, or hiding eyes behind sunglasses can all be signs of deception.

Social Submission or Discomfort with Authority

Sometimes eye blocking happens in interactions where one person feels like they are lower status than the other or interacting with an authority figure. Looking away can signal submission, respect, or discomfort with the power dynamic.

Shame or Embarrassment

Feelings of shame or embarrassment can cause some people to avert their gaze or close their eyes. Not maintaining eye contact protects them visually from the uncomfortable feeling of being exposed or vulnerable that comes with embarrassment.

Examples of Eye Blocking Body Language

Closing Eyes

Closing the eyes for extended periods while listening or speaking to someone is a clear eye blocking behavior. It signals that the person wants to disengage from the visual component of the interaction or find relief from anxiety caused by eye contact.

Rubbing Eyes

Rubbing eyes or the bridge of the nose can be an eye blocking gesture that signals discomfort, concealment, or deception. The gesture also lets the person temporarily shut out visual input from the other person.

Fiddling with Glasses

Some people constantly adjust, clean, or push their glasses up on their nose as a form of eye blocking body language. It allows them to briefly cover their eyes or limit visual exposure to the other person which can help alleviate anxiety.

Blinking Rapidly

Increased blinking can block sustained eye contact and signal deception or anxiety. Studies show lying often increases blink rate.

Looking Down

Casting the eyes downwards towards the floor is a submission signal that blocks eye contact. Looking down may indicate discomfort with authority, vulnerability, or contemplation during conversation.

How to Reduce Your Own Eye Blocking Gestures

If you want to reduce eye blocking body language in your interactions, here are some useful tips:

• Practice sustaining eye contact if it makes you uncomfortable. The more you expose yourself to eye contact, the easier it becomes over time.
• If you feel anxious or overwhelmed, take slow deep breaths rather than closing your eyes. Conscious breathing can calm nerves.
• Focus on listening closely to the other person instead of averting your gaze. Concentrating on their words can take pressure off eye contact.
• Nod, smile, and use other facial expressions to continue engaging visually even when you aren’t maintaining constant eye contact.
• Keep your hands away from your face and eyes. Let them rest in your lap or on a table to resist rubbing your eyes.

Interpreting Eye Blocking Gestures in Others

When noticing eye blocking body language in others, avoid jumping to conclusions. While sometimes it can indicate deception, there are many innocent reasons someone might display eye blocking gestures. Consider the context and look for clusters of suspicious nonverbal behaviors rather than relying on just one.

It’s also important to remember that different genders and cultures view eye contact very differently. Women and people from certain ethnic backgrounds may use less eye contact on average. Additionally, disorders like autism can also cause difficulty with eye contact.

With practice, you can learn to recognize eye blocking patterns in a given person to better understand their emotional state and if they are likely being transparent. But avoid assuming a single gesture alone proves deceit.

How to Reduce Eye Blocking in Conversations

If someone you are speaking with displays frequent eye blocking behavior, there are some things you can try to make them more comfortable and encourage eye contact:

• Ask open-ended questions that engage them and require more descriptive responses.
• Share something about yourself first to demonstrate vulnerability and build trust.
• Compliment them to help reduce anxiety and create positive rapport.
• Find common interests and values you share to establish an emotional connection.
• Avoid aggressive postures like finger pointing or staring them down.

However, if eye blocking behavior seems clearly due to deceit, pressing for more information directly can sometimes elicit helpful microexpressions and other body language cues that reveal if they are lying.

The Importance of Baseline Behavior

When evaluating eye blocking gestures, it’s important to establish a person’s baseline eye contact behavior in neutral situations. This gives you a standard to compare with interactions where anxiety or deception may be involved. If someone typically makes steady eye contact, then frequent blocking gestures could signal something is off. But in someone who averts their gaze often, eye blocking may just be their normal communication style.

In Conclusion

Eye blocking body language like closing eyes, looking away, and rubbing eyes can shut down communication and indicate discomfort, disinterest, deceit, or vulnerability. But it’s important not to judge a person too quickly based on isolated gestures. If you want to reduce your own eye blocking habits, consciously work on your eye contact skills and anxiety management. With practice reading body language cues in context, you can become better at understanding the meaning behind eye blocking behaviors.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.