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P. 5
UNIT 1
CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
“The most important things in those first few seconds are, basically, a
firm handshake and a smile, good eye contact and really paying
attention. “
Pat Schaumann
EYE CONTACT
In many Western societies, including the United States, a person who
does not maintain ‘good eye contact’ is regarded as being slightly
suspicious, or a ‘shifty’ character. Americans unconsciously associate
people who avoid eye contact as unfriendly, insecure, untrustworthy,
inattentive and impersonal. However, in contrast, Japanese children
are taught in school to direct their gaze at the region of their teacher’s
Adam’s apple or tie knot, and, as adults, Japanese lower their eyes
when speaking to a superior, a gesture of respect.
Latin American cultures, as well as some African cultures, such as
Nigeria, have longer looking time, but prolonged eye contact from an
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