While difficulty with eye contact is often associated with autism spectrum disorder, it is not exclusive to it, and many non-autistic individuals also struggle with it.
Reasons for non-autistic individuals to struggle with eye contact include:
* Social anxiety or shyness Some people find eye contact painfully uncomfortable, especially with people they don't know. They might feel awkward or that they are being "too personal."
* Trauma Past negative experiences, such as being yelled at while making eye contact, can make it unnerving.
* Alexithymia This condition is characterized by difficulties recognizing and describing one's own emotions. Research suggests that alexithymia, which occurs in about 5% of non-autistic people, plays a role in avoiding eye contact regardless of autism. People with higher alexithymia traits tend to look at eyes less often.
* Cognitive load For some, maintaining eye contact can be distracting and require significant mental energy, making it difficult to simultaneously process information and formulate responses, especially in conversations.
* Dislike of the person A child, for example, might avoid eye contact if they dislike the person attempting to make it.
It's important to remember that avoiding eye contact in neurotypical individuals is generally perceived as a sign of inattention, lack of interest, rudeness, or lack of empathy. However, for individuals who struggle with it, the reasons are often more complex and deeply rooted.