Katsekontaktia

Katsekontaktia, or eye contact, is a form of nonverbal communication that involves looking directly into another person's eyes. In Finnish, katsekontaktia is the partitive form of katsekontakti.

It serves to regulate social interaction by signaling attention, interest, or understanding, and by facilitating turn-taking during conversations. It can convey confidence or dominance, while gaze aversion can signal thinking, discomfort, or politeness in certain contexts.

Cultural and individual variation is common: norms regarding eye contact vary across cultures and contexts. In many Western cultures, moderate eye contact is associated with honesty and engagement, but prolonged staring can be perceived as aggressive. In some East Asian cultures, eye contact may be used more selectively and less frequently. Individual factors such as age, gender, personality, and anxiety influence gaze behavior.

Development and clinical relevance: from infancy, eye contact supports bonding and social development. Atypical eye contact can be observed in certain developmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorders, but is not diagnostic on its own. Eye contact is also a focus in clinical assessments of social communication and in training programs aimed at improving interpersonal skills.

Measurement and practice: in research, eye-tracking or observational coding quantify gaze duration and frequency. In daily life, effective katsekontaktia involves balancing looking, blinking, and listening, aiming for natural, context-appropriate engagement.