028
SUSTAINED GAZE
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Eye contact held for noticeably longer than is comfortable — typically more than three seconds without break.
MEANS
Dominance, challenge, or intense interest. The intent depends entirely on the context and the accompanying signals.
CONTEXT
A friendly face with sustained gaze reads as connection. A neutral face with sustained gaze reads as challenge. Read the eyebrows and mouth before reading the gaze. Cultural variation is high: some cultures treat sustained gaze as respect, others as aggression.
NOT
A frozen, blank stare, which signals dissociation or shock.
