I was also thinking that because most autistics avoid eye contact, especially at a young age, we don’t learn those signs as early or as easily as NTs. We have to make a conscious effort, which diverts brain power from the actual task.
It really isn’t much different than noticing the flaws in the surroundings around us, or watching a show that is “predictable”.
You may be onto something. My social skills made a marked improvement after I started overriding my discomfort in order to make eye contact. Eyes really are “the window to the soul.” But that’s also part of why looking at them feels so intense to me.
I was also thinking that because most autistics avoid eye contact, especially at a young age, we don’t learn those signs as early or as easily as NTs. We have to make a conscious effort, which diverts brain power from the actual task.
It really isn’t much different than noticing the flaws in the surroundings around us, or watching a show that is “predictable”.
You may be onto something. My social skills made a marked improvement after I started overriding my discomfort in order to make eye contact. Eyes really are “the window to the soul.” But that’s also part of why looking at them feels so intense to me.