The role of gaze in impression formation

Three hypotheses about the effects of amount of gaze on the impression created of six confederates were tested, using rating scales and free descriptions. The first hypothesis--that favourableness of impression would be a linear function of amount of gaze--was partly confirmed. The second hypothesis--that favourableness of impression would be a curvilinear function of amount of gaze--was not confirmed, nor was the third hypothesis--that effect of gaze would be a complex function of sex of subject and sex of gazer. The effects of gaze were not as marked as had been predicted. The free descriptions also provided data on the number and type of subjects who commented on the amount of gaze of the confederate. Three possible explanations of the results are discussed.