In many cultures, direct eye contact is the preserve of whom?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks: In many cultures, direct eye contact is the preserve of whom?
Option a: 'Dominant individuals.' This is the correct choice because direct eye contact is often associated with displays of confidence, authority, and social power in many cultural contexts. Maintaining direct gaze can signal dominance or higher status, which aligns with how some cultures interpret eye contact as a cue to social hierarchy.
Option b: 'Men.' While in some cultural settings gaze norms vary by gender, the statement that direct eye contact is exclusively the preserve of men is not universally true. Many cultures encourage both genders to use or avoid direct eye contact depending on context, making this option overly broad and inaccurate.
Option c: 'Subordinates.' This option suggests that direct eye contact is reserved for subordinates, which contradicts common observations in many cultures where indirect gaze or deference is more typical for subordinates, especially toward superiors. Therefore this choice mischaracterizes the usual power dynamics conveyed by eye contact.
Option d: 'Women.' Similar to option b, claiming that direct eye contact is reserved for women is not a universal rule across cultures. In some contexts women may use direct gaze, while in others they may avoid it; the statement is too absolute and culturally specific to be generally true.

In sum, the notion that direct eye contact is the preserve of dominant individuals captures the general association between gaze and perceived status in many cultural frameworks, whereas the other options rely on gendered or subordinate roles that do not consistently determine gaze behavior across cultures.

In many cultures, direct eye contact is the preserve of whom?

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