When a Man Is Avoiding Eye Contact: 11 Possible Reasons (2024)

Under normal circ*mstances, a guy should be able to hold eye contact when communicating with a girl. In addition to making him appear confident, this ensures that a deep connection exists between both people.

However, avoiding eye contact can be a red flag you might want to look out for in your relationship.

To determine what may be the challenge and how to fix it, you should know why he is avoiding eye contact all of a sudden. You should also be aware of what to do when your man avoids eye contact with you. Keep reading to find out more.

What does it mean when a guy avoids eye contact?

Lack of eye contact can be an indication of many things. For one, when a person constantly avoids looking you in the eye, it could suggest that they don’t want to engage with you (or whatever is in front of them) or that they would rather be somewhere else.

When a man can’t look a woman in the eye, it could mean many things, including a sense of guilt, an expression of frustration, an expression of his love and admiration for her, or it could just be that he is just bored to death and would do anything to get away from her.

When a guy avoids eye contact, he does everything to look in every other direction except into the girl’s eyes. This could be in a conversation, when hanging out, or just when they interact for the tiniest moments.

Although there are many reasons for avoiding eye contact, one thing remains sure. Don’t celebrate or bemoan his inability to look you straight in the eye just yet. Not until you have determined exactly what is going on in his mind!

Can avoiding eye contact mean attraction?

Is avoiding eye contact a sign of attraction? It can be.

There is a relationship between eye contact and attraction. Research has found that making eye contact plays a crucial role in how we see and connect with others. Forbes states that even when looking at pictures or drawings of eyes, this simple act creates a powerful, subconscious sense of connection.

That said, different people approach the use of eye contact in different ways.

Some would rather feel nervous and avoid eye contact when they feel attracted to someone. The others intensify their eye contact when they feel attracted to someone.

Attraction could be one of the reasons someone avoids eye contact. When a person feels strongly for another, they may be overwhelmed with their emotions and decide that their best course of action is to avoid looking the other person in the eye.

If this is the case with your man, you may want to consider his lack of eye contact together with other non-verbal cues like his overall facial expressions and even his tone of voice.

11 reasons why is he avoiding eye contact

When someone avoids making eye contact, it can be puzzling and leave us wondering about the underlying reasons. Let us explore the possible explanations behind this.

These are 11 of the strongest reasons why he is avoiding eye contact with you.

1. He’s angry at something

Why does a guy avoid eye contact and be visibly upset over something? It’s self-explanatory.

When a guy is angry at something, he may end up avoiding eye contact with you. This may be his way of trying to protect himself and prevent you from seeing the anger flashing in his eyes.

Also, avoiding eye contact with you when he is angry could also be because he is trying to protect you from feeling the same thing he feels at the moment. There are many reasons why he may be avoiding eye contact.

Psychologist Mert Şeker says that this situation is an example of evolutionary psychology. If a man isn’t feeling vulnerable or safe around you, he’ll just observe instead of making any eye contact with you.

2. He’s angry with you

Anger is the second reason why he may be avoiding eye contact with you. When a guy is angry with you, he may show his ill emotions by keeping away from establishing eye contact.

To be sure about this, think about the things that have happened between you in the recent past. Did you get into an argument before now? Did you say something to someone about him? These could be the triggers for his anger.

3. He likes you

Do guys avoid eye contact if they like you? Yes, it is possible.

Avoiding eye contact is a common sign of attraction in some cases, as we have already discussed early on. When a guy avoids establishing eye contact, it could be because he likes you or has a crush on you.

He may think that by avoiding eye contact in attraction, he can mask his feelings and make sure that you don’t suspect that he feels attracted to you.

Psychologist Mert Şeker says that when a man like a woman, he is shy, like a little kid, but also worried about rejection. As a result, not making eye contact will make him feel safer.

Usually, a shy guy will go this route when he has feelings for you because he may not be able to walk up to you and ask you out immediately.

4. He feels intimidated by you

If you feel ‘he makes eye contact with everyone but me,’ it’s possible that he finds you intimidating.

When a guy thinks of you as too beautiful, too successful, or just out of his league, he may have strong feelings for you but will never come clean because he believes that you wouldn’t ever be interested in him.

Instead of risking it, he can choose to stay far from you and just observe from the sidelines. Under these conditions, you may catch him stealing glances at you, but he would be quick to avert his gaze every time he knows that you are looking at him.

5. He is naturally shy

Shy people tend to avoid eye contact when engaging or conversing with others. If he is avoiding eye contact with you because he is shy, the first thing you’d notice is that he does the same thing in interactions with other people.

In addition to avoiding eye contact, you can confirm if he is just the shy type by evaluating his overall non-verbal cues. Does he shrink into himself when people approach him? Does he slouch when sitting? Does he make it a point of duty to keep a distance from people?

Here are some signs you can look for to know if a shy guy likes you:

6. He doesn’t want to interact with you

If he can’t look you in the eye anymore, it could be a sign that he would rather be doing something else than engaging with you at the moment.

To be sure, evaluate other body signs like the direction his feet are pointed in, how tense his posture is, and whether or not he is wearing a genuine smile.

7. He is hiding something

It is an age-long knowledge that someone who is hiding something or telling you a lie will tend to avoid eye contact when conversing with you. In addition to avoiding the contact, he’ll be fidgety and his eyes may even carry a demented look.

If he is suddenly sweaty on the palms and under his armpits, you may want to double-check.

8. He just finds it difficult

Regardless of how ridiculous this may sound, some people have issues with making and holding eye contact with others.

This could be because of underlying health conditions (like the case of autistic people who avoid eye contact because it causes anxiety), or it could be traceable to environmental factors like the conditions under which he grew up.

9. It may be his way of telling you that he is already taken

One of the reasons why he is avoiding eye contact could be because he already has a partner. Some guys believe that deep eye gazing is sacred and is one aspect of intimacy they should reserve for their partners only.

As usual, you want to consider other interdependent factors, like if the said partner is somewhere close by. Then again, a quick look at his ring finger should reveal if he is married (at least).

10. He probably doesn’t know

Another reason why he is avoiding eye contact could be because he doesn’t even know that you would want to establish eye contact with him. If he comes from a place where holding eye contact is considered disrespectful, it could be a knee-jerk reaction for him to avoid eye contact.

Under these circ*mstances, you may find out that he doesn’t just do it to you alone.

The easiest way to get over this awkward stage would be to drop subtle hints to let him know that you are looking at him or are interested in him. Then give him the time and space he needs to adjust.

11. Social conditioning or upbringing

Upbringing and social conditioning can play a significant role in shaping behavior. A guy may have been raised with certain beliefs or norms that discourage direct eye contact with girls.

You can tell the difference if he talks that way to every girl that is outside his family or close circle.

Factors to consider when a man avoids eye contact

It is unwise to draw instant conclusions when a man can’t look a woman in the eye. This is because you may be quick to judge him as hiding something, or too fast to decide that he can’t do so because he loves her and is flustered just by being in her presence.

The challenge is that these aren’t always the case.

When a man constantly avoids eye contact, the first thing to do is ask yourself this question, “why does he avoid eye contact?” A critical look at the situation at hand can reveal what’s going on in his mind regarding you.

Regardless, here are a couple of things to consider when a man avoids eye contact with a woman or man.

1. Comparing with normal behavior

It may not make a lot of sense to draw summaries about what is going on with him if you don’t start by comparing this against his normal behavior. Is it just you, or does he avoid eye contact with other people?

If you study his normal behavior and see that he makes eye contact with other people, then you may want to pay closer attention to other situations so that you can know exactly what’s going through his mind.

Psychologist Mert Şeker says that eye contact can provide information about the psychological disorders that people may have from early childhood. It is another point to be noted here.

Individuals with social phobia or introverted personalities can also avoid making eye contact.

2. Considering the conversation going on

Some guys get shy and flustered when some subjects are raised, especially subjects that have to do with love, romance, and relationships. While trying to figure out why a guy avoids eye contact, it is best that you start by considering the conversation going on.

Was he making eye contact and suddenly stopped when a specific conversation came up? If yes, it could be that the conversation served as the trigger that caused him to shift his focus from you.

3. Observing the presence of others

If he avoids eye contact while talking or listening to you, also make a mental note of the people around you.

Some guys either feel emboldened when others are around (and would look you straight in the eye during a conversation). Some others, on the other hand, may feel shy and spooked because of the people around.

4. Noticing accompanying non-verbal cues

Other non-verbal cues that accompany his lack of eye contact will help you know exactly what’s going on in his mind. Is he blushing at the same time? Does he have a small, soft smile on his face as he tries to evade eye contact?

If these body language clusters show up together, it could be a sign that he likes you or that you may have made him feel flustered.

Some extra questions

Eye contact is a powerful form of nonverbal communication, and its absence can leave us feeling confused or uncertain about others’ intentions. In this section, we address common questions related to avoiding eye contact and its potential meanings.

• Why does he always avoid eye contact?

Avoiding eye contact can stem from various reasons, such as shyness, lack of confidence, or cultural norms. He may feel nervous or unsure around you, which makes maintaining eye contact challenging. It’s important to consider other cues and verbal communication to better understand his intentions.

• How can I determine if he is avoiding eye contact because he is guilty?

While avoiding eye contact can sometimes indicate guilt, it’s not a foolproof indicator. Look for other signs like fidgeting, changes in tone of voice, or avoiding certain topics. However, it’s essential to have an open conversation to address your concerns directly rather than solely relying on eye contact interpretations.

• What should I do if he avoids eye contact and seems disinterested?

If someone constantly avoids eye contact and appears disinterested, it may be a sign that they are not fully engaged in the conversation or the situation. Consider giving them space or asking open-ended questions to encourage their participation. If the disinterest persists, it may be worth discussing your observations with them.

• Can eye contact be an indicator of someone hiding something?

While eye contact can sometimes be associated with honesty and openness, it is not a definitive indicator of someone hiding something. People may avoid eye contact for various reasons, including shyness, discomfort, or cultural differences.

It’s important to consider other behavioral cues and engage in open communication to better understand someone’s intentions.

Interpreting his behavior correctly

Interpreting eye contact requires considering various factors like shyness, cultural differences, and personal insecurities. It’s important to look at the bigger picture and consider other nonverbal cues to understand his intentions accurately. By promoting open and empathetic communication, we can foster deeper connections and better understand one another.