3 Ways Our Eyes Speak of LOVE
Our eyes can speak! They are the windows to the soul…
- Love at first sight…
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder…
- The look of love…
It’s likely you’ve heard one, if not all, of these phrases at some point. But what do they have in common? They all describe in some way the connection between our eyes and our emotions. Love, in particular.
If the poets and songwriters of history have taught us anything, it’s that our eyes are directly linked with romantic feelings. They help us to consciously and biologically communicate our attraction to others.
This Valentine’s Day, many of us are either planning a date with our significant other or looking for someone new to feel a connection with. Whatever the state of your love life, here are three strange and wonderful ways our eyes help us communicate in romantic situations (which may come in handy!):
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The better to see you with, my dear
Red Riding Hood isn’t the only one who noticed our eyes get bigger when we see something we like. Biology tells us that in the real world when we see something or someone, we are attracted to, our pupils will, in fact, dilate. Why? Because when our brain registers that we’ve seen something that excites or interests us, it releases a chemical called dopamine which assists in the regulation of our brain’s pleasure and reward centre. It is this chemical that triggers the widening of our pupils. Interestingly, it is this widening of the pupils that then attracts others. Studies have in fact shown people are subconsciously drawn to large pupils. Ah, the circle of attraction!
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Love at first sight
Flirting is both a conscious and subconscious behaviour. It can include a number of physical and biological cues, one of which is eye contact. Perhaps the strongest indicator of attraction, lingering eye contact with a potential ‘mate’ can lead to mutual recognition of interest. In some cases, feelings of love.
To add to this, science has shown that if two people gaze into each other’s eyes for two minutes, they will produce passionate feelings for each other. Crazy perhaps, yet many other studies support this claim. One study showed subjects appeared up to eight times more attractive to their potential mate when they smiled and made eye contact. So if you’re interested in someone, hold deep eye contact with them for 8 or more seconds. And, no less than 3 seconds at a time when talking (e.g. on a date!). It’s a scientifically-proven way to increase your chances of love!
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Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus
Over the years, studies around the world have documented countless ways men and women differ when it comes to relationships. When it comes to the eyes, the trend remains true. For example, when men and women first begin dating, women will spend more time staring at the man, whereas men tend to look more at the woman’s body. Interestingly, lust is characterised by looking at the body, and love consists of sustained gazing into the eyes (see point 2).
To add to this, people with larger eyes, in general, are perceived by others to be more trustworthy and honest. So if you have a ‘baby’ face or a ‘kind’ face you are more attractive to others.
So, the Eyes do Speak!
The eyes tell us a lot about a person’s thoughts, emotions, and even their level of interest in us as a romantic partner. By understanding how our eyes and our brain work together to send and interpret messages of love and desire, we can better manage and respond to romantic situations. After all, despite today’s technologically-advanced world and the evolution of online dating, an app or computer will never reveal as much about a person as their eyes.
Want to feel the love this Valentine’s Day? Better put down the screen and get gazing!
