Visual behavior in an unfocused interaction as a function of sex and distance

Following Goffman's distinction between focused and unfocused interactions, the visual behavior of male, female, and mixed sex dyads in an unfocused interaction (waiting room situation) was investigated. Amount of visual behavior decreased over time and with increasing proximity of the interactants. While the sex of the looker was not a significant source of variance, females received more glances than males. Also, more glances occurred in female dyads than in either male or mixed sex dyads. The amount of mutual gaze accounted for 1% of the interaction time and was found not to exceed the level expected by chance. Attention was drawn to the differences in the patterns of visual behavior which occurred in the present unfocused interaction and those which have been found to occur in focused interactions.

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