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eye to eye contact - is it different looking at photographs compared to face to face?

Phased

I have just been on my local autism services website to seek out an autism support worker.

The people who fulfill this role are all shown in full face photos staring and smiling, I believe confidently, directly into the camera lens.

Speaking personally I found this a bit intimidating and I wondered whether this was just the stress of thinking about meeting one or whether it was caused by the eye to eye contact in their pictures.  I really couldn't tell although I did think "oh I hope that not that one" to start with.  Then I took a closer look when my eyes seemed to look at the photo differently and my opinion changed..." .

Combination of the 2 and sensory overload maybe?

When stressed even a friendly face can be just too much to deal with?

I have looked it up and academically it seems there are studies where autistic people might process static images of people differently to literally being face to face with them.

Just can't work it out myself at present and asking family at home would probably just confuse the heck out of things.

So I thought I'd ask how other people in this community would get on with this.

Comments anyone please?

Grinning   hehe - Smiley eyes open emoji, ah the irony...

Parents

  • If they were pictures of strangers that you were never going to meet, would they have the same effect?

    You could amuse yourself by taking the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test. See what you think.

  • in reply to Damojo

    turns out I had done the test before - interestingly I scored in the high neurotypical range but took twice as long over it than a neurotypical.  Maybe more practice and I could get it quicker...  hehe fake it 'til you make it in acion maybe.  Amusingly I remember a girl friend asking me how i knew she liked me and I cited the science of pupil dilation -  fact was a bright light was on her face and eyes and as they say "the eyes have it"  - couldn't help but notice and it was the first thing I thought of.  Anyway lucky me that night :-)  Would be interested to know how you got on with the test  if you are OK to share.  Hehe I won't be offended if you decline to comment!

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  • in reply to Damojo

    turns out I had done the test before - interestingly I scored in the high neurotypical range but took twice as long over it than a neurotypical.  Maybe more practice and I could get it quicker...  hehe fake it 'til you make it in acion maybe.  Amusingly I remember a girl friend asking me how i knew she liked me and I cited the science of pupil dilation -  fact was a bright light was on her face and eyes and as they say "the eyes have it"  - couldn't help but notice and it was the first thing I thought of.  Anyway lucky me that night :-)  Would be interested to know how you got on with the test  if you are OK to share.  Hehe I won't be offended if you decline to comment!

Children