The Role of Gaze in the Initiation of Conversation

The initiation of conversation presents a problem for the unacquainted. Goffman (1963) has argued that in contrast to acquaintances, unacquainted persons require a reason to converse. Thus, in order to avoid embarrassment should one per? son not want an encounter, polite unac? quainted persons should subtly determine whether the other wants a conversation before risking an attempt. One way this can be accomplished is through a violation of civil inattention. Goffman (1963) has proposed that civil inattention is the fundamental rule governing gaze among un? acquainted persons, the rule being that persons owe one another an initial giving of visual attention followed by a withdrawal of attention to indicate that the other is of no special concern. By giving visual attention in excess of a first look a person can indicate that an encounter is desired without actually speaking. The specific aim of this study is to describe the role of gaze in the initiation of conversa? tion between unacquainted students to determine whether the pattern fits Goffman's model.