"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" If you have ever used that line during a disagreement, you might want to think again. Forcing eye contact when trying to change someone's mind may actually cause listeners to become more stubborn, a new study shows.
Researchers found that subjects made to hold eye contact with a speaker were less open-minded and held steadfast to their original opinion, more so than those who looked elsewhere.
"Eye contact is a very intimate thing," said Julia Minson, study author and a Harvard University social psychologist. "So when you're in a situation that feels confrontational, I think it's more likely to put people off."