Published on 12, July, 2020
I am on the autism spectrum and I know those on the autism spectrum are often said to be socially awkward and have difficulty making friends.I was reflecting on this in the context of making eye contact and I know those on the autism spectrum often have difficulty making eye contact, as I do.Why I reflected on both was my feeling that reliable social contact with others may be guided by differences in how neurotypical people feel about social behaviours. For example, I notice I don't make eye contact because I find it incredibly uncomfortable to look somebody in the eye. I'd rather look just about anywhere else.But that then to me implies it's as much a feelings thing as a skills thing. I don't avoid eye contact because I don't know how to look into people's eyes, I avoid eye contact because I find it extremely uncomfortable.If you are on the autism spectrum will you please reply by writing something how you feel about eye contact and will you also write something more about what your theory is about social skills but also what the differences are between neurotypical people and those on the autism spectrum while we each try to be sociable? So, eye contact and being sociable, go! :)
Here is Bees' how to fake eye contact life hacks.Method one:Look into their left eye (right hand side when seen from your perspective) if it gets too much look at anything really naturally eye catching so it looks like a natural distraction/admiration of art/architecture, etc. Animals and pets are great excuses to look at something else.Method two:Look at the space between their eyes, imagine someone drew a little kitten there with marker, look at the kitty. It's a cute meow meow kitty. No eyes here, only kitty.
Cute. I will try to remember these eye-contact tips. This way I can look like I am looking at them without really doing it. :)