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Eye-rolling
Eye-rolling
from Wikipedia
Emoji illustrating eye-rolling

Eye-rolling is a gesture in which a person briefly turns their eyes upward, often in an arcing motion from one side to the other. In the Anglosphere, it has been identified as a passive-aggressive response to an undesirable situation or person. The gesture is used to disagree or dismiss or express contempt for the targeted person without physical contact.[1]

History

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Eye-rolling has been present in literature since at least the reign of Augustus, appearing in book 12, line 939 of Vergil's Aeneid, "... volvens oculos...".[2] William Shakespeare periodically would use the gesture in his works to portray lust or passion for another character, as used in his poem The Rape of Lucrece.[1][3] In his time, eye-rolling was used commonly as an expression of desire or flirtation, and it continued to be used in his way in literature for centuries. Up until about the 1950s this same meaning was used in music and films, but began translating to the meaning known today.[citation needed]

In society

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Someone rolling their eyes

Eye-rolling is one of the most common forms of non-verbal communication among humans.[4][5] A study of teenage girls in the eastern US found the eye-roll gesture to be their most common expression of displeasure. Thirteen-year-old girls use eye-rolling as the main sign of aggression towards their peers in social situations. Eye-rolling is often accompanied by crossing of the arms and throwing the head or body back in an increased effort to symbolise avoidance or displeasure.[6]

A study conducted by John Gottman states that contemptuous behaviours like eye-rolling is the top factor of predicting divorce, followed by criticism, defensiveness, and stonewalling.[7]

In 2010, members of the city council of Elmhurst, Illinois, wished to make a law outlawing eye-rolling.[8]

In 2018, a Chinese journalist's eye-rolling became international news. She rolled her eyes while exasperated by another journalist's excessive obsequiousness towards a government official, and got censored as a result, with CNN reporting rumors that her press credentials were revoked because of the eye-rolling.[9]

Evolution

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There has been much speculation about the hypothesis that eye-rolling is an evolutionary trait of women, which would explain why it is performed more by women than their male counterparts. Psychologists suggest that it was developed as "a low-risk way to express aggression and disapproval". Women in the past were more motivated to use survival tactics that did not involve physical violence in conflict including cut-eye, or side-eye, likely related to maternal instincts.[10] The action of looking away in rejection or disapproval has been traced to many different cultures, who use eye-rolling for similar purposes, suggesting that it is a somewhat innate reaction to unpleasant stimuli.[11]

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia

Eye-rolling is a nonverbal gesture involving the upward or sideways rotation of the eyes, typically signaling contempt, frustration, annoyance, or disbelief toward a speaker or situation. This expression communicates disrespect or low regard for the recipient without verbalization or physical contact. Unlike basic facial expressions tied to innate emotions, eye-rolling is a learned behavior, acquired through observation of family, peers, or media rather than emerging spontaneously in infancy.
In interpersonal dynamics, particularly romantic relationships, eye-rolling exemplifies , one of the "Four Horsemen" behaviors identified by psychologist as highly predictive of marital dissolution. Empirical observations from Gottman's longitudinal studies link frequent eye-rolling to eroded and increased conflict escalation, positioning it as a potent relational toxin. Women tend to employ this gesture more often than men, potentially as a low-risk mechanism for asserting dominance or venting in contexts where direct carries higher costs. While predominantly negative in most cultures, eye-rolling serves atypical positive functions in specific ethnographic contexts, such as the people's festival in , where men roll their eyes to accentuate whiteness and allure potential mates, highlighting variability in gestural interpretation beyond universal disdain.

Definition and Mechanics

Physical Description

Eye-rolling is the gesture of turning or flicking the eyes upward, typically as an expression of , exasperation, or disbelief. This movement involves a rapid elevation of the , often revealing more of the by rolling the eyes upward or backward. The action can manifest as a simple upward flick or a semi-circular roll from bottom to top, performed bilaterally or unilaterally. The duration of the gesture varies, ranging from subtle microexpressions lasting less than half a second to more exaggerated displays that persist briefly. In cultural contexts, such as the festival, participants dramatically roll their eyes back to emphasize the whiteness of the . The physical execution relies on voluntary control of eye position, distinct from involuntary eye movements like .

Physiological Basis

The physiological basis of eye-rolling as a nonverbal involves the voluntary conjugate upward deviation of both eyeballs within their orbits, distinct from pathological involuntary rolling seen in conditions such as seizures or syncope. This movement is primarily executed by the contraction of the superior rectus muscle, which elevates the eye when gazing straight ahead, and the , which contributes to elevation particularly during adduction. Both muscles originate from tissue specialized for precise, rapid control and are innervated by branches of the (cranial nerve III), enabling fine-tuned vertical saccades or smooth pursuits upward. Neural control for voluntary upward eye movements originates in the of the , which send signals via descending pathways to the midbrain's rostral interstitial nucleus of the (riMLF), a key integrator for vertical saccades. From the riMLF, impulses travel through the to synchronize activation of oculomotor nuclei in the , ensuring bilateral coordination and preventing . This pathway allows for the deliberate, often exaggerated upward rotation characteristic of the gesture, which may involve sustained contraction for 1-2 seconds to maximize visibility of the (), though empirical quantification of duration in communicative contexts remains limited. In non-pathological contexts, eye-rolling does not typically engage vestibular or reflexive mechanisms, unlike vestibulo-ocular reflexes that stabilize during head motion; instead, it relies on supranuclear voluntary inputs, with feedback from proprioceptive afferents in the modulating force and position via the trigeminal and oculomotor loops. Lesions in the structures, such as the or , can impair upward , underscoring their role in the underlying circuitry, as observed in clinical cases of vertical .

Historical Development

Early Depictions and Origins

The earliest documented references to eye-rolling as a nonverbal appear in during the late . William Shakespeare's 1594 narrative poem includes the phrase "with rolling eyes," describing a character's intense emotional response amid distress and violation, interpreted as conveying disdain, dramatic turmoil, or aggressive passion. Shakespeare further incorporated the gesture in his plays to signify desire or lustful intent toward another character, reflecting its initial association with erotic or heightened affective states rather than contemporary connotations of or dismissal. The term "eye-rolling" itself emerged later, with the first known printed use recorded in 1837, denoting the physical act of upward eye movement often linked to exasperation or disbelief. By the early , "eye roll" as a compound phrase appeared around 1925–1930, solidifying its recognition in English for expressive purposes. These literary depictions suggest eye-rolling functioned as a deliberate communicative tool in Elizabethan-era texts, potentially drawing from observed behaviors, though no earlier artistic or textual evidence from , Roman, or medieval sources has been reliably identified in historical analyses of . In non-Western traditions, symbolic references to rolling eyes predate European literature, appearing in ancient Indian texts associated with and , where the motion signifies intoxication (mada), emotional disorientation, or profound yearning during states of devotion. Ethological observations propose that the gesture may stem from an innate aversion response—averting gaze from disliked stimuli—as documented in of universal nonverbal patterns, though specific historical depictions remain sparse outside literary symbolism. This indicates eye-rolling's origins likely trace to pre-literate human expressive repertoires, with textual records emerging as literacy and dramatic forms evolved.

Emergence in Modern Contexts

In the late 20th century, eye-rolling transitioned from its historical connotations of lust or flirtation—prevalent in Shakespearean works and 18th-19th century literature—to a primary signifier of dismissal, , or in everyday . This semantic shift became evident in popular media depictions, such as mystery series, where the gesture illustrated annoyance during conflicts as early as the mid-20th century, reflecting its growing association with rejection rather than affection. By the 1980s, eye-rolling solidified as a low-risk nonverbal cue for expressing disapproval or irony, often without verbal , aligning with broader developments in analysis that emphasized subtle facial signals in social . Psychological interpretations framed it as an embodied practice of subtle , particularly in informal settings like adolescent interactions, where it served as a non-aggressive alternative to direct opposition. Empirical observations in suggested this modern usage built on innate tendencies to avert from aversive stimuli, but cultural amplified its sarcastic valence in Western contexts. The gesture's prominence in digital and mass media further entrenched its modern role, with viral instances—such as a 2018 Chinese news conference eye-roll symbolizing frustration amid scripted discourse—highlighting its universality as a marker of unspoken skepticism. Standardization in visual communication, including the Unicode eye-roll emoji (U+1F644) approved in 2016, codified its recognition as a concise emblem of exasperation across global online platforms.

Psychological Interpretations

Emotional and Cognitive Meanings

Eye-rolling functions as a nonverbal expression primarily signaling , defined as a feeling of disdain toward what is regarded as unworthy or inferior. This gesture conveys emotional rejection, often accompanying , , or in response to perceived foolishness or repetition. In relational contexts, it manifests as a subtle form of , with empirical observations linking frequent eye-rolling to diminished and predictive of marital ; longitudinal studies of couples identify it as a key behavioral indicator of , correlating with rates up to 90% higher among exhibiting pairs. Cognitively, eye-rolling denotes disbelief or dismissal of the interlocutor's statement as implausible or trivial, effectively signaling mental disengagement from the content. It embodies a judgmental where the observer deems the input cognitively unworthy of sustained , akin to an implicit of intellectual inadequacy without verbal articulation. This interpretation aligns with analyses of nonverbal , where the upward or sideways underscores rejection of the proposition's merit, often in social or argumentative settings. Among adolescents, particularly girls, it further serves as a marker of or covert , reflecting evaluative toward peers' actions or words.

Empirical Studies on Expression

Empirical studies have identified eye-rolling as a nonverbal cue strongly associated with and dismissal in interpersonal interactions. In observational research on marital couples, eye-rolling is coded as a behavioral marker of , alongside and sneering, during conflict discussions. Longitudinal analyses of over 700 couples revealed that frequent displays of , including eye-rolling, predict relationship dissolution with over 90% accuracy, outperforming other negative behaviors like or defensiveness. These findings stem from video-recorded lab interactions scored using specific behavioral coding systems, where contemptuous expressions correlated with physiological markers of stress and long-term rates. Beyond romantic contexts, conversation analytic studies of everyday interactions treat the eye-roll as an embodied practice signaling or ironic rejection of a prior . In one qualitative analysis of video-recorded dyadic exchanges, participants produced eye-rolls—defined as upward or sideways eye deviation in the sockets—to visibly embody disbelief or opposition, often without verbal accompaniment, thereby shifting the interactional stance. Such displays were observed to elicit responses like apologies or topic shifts from recipients, underscoring their pragmatic force as a minimal but potent cue of attitudinal . Developmental research highlights eye-rolling's role in adolescent , particularly among girls, where it functions as a form of . Observational studies of peer groups document eye-rolls as nonverbal expressions of or exclusion, more prevalent in female interactions than direct confrontation, aligning with patterns of indirect . Experimental exposure to provocative stimuli, such as sexist humor, has elicited eye-rolling more frequently in women, interpreted as a low-risk signal of disapproval that avoids physical escalation. These patterns suggest eye-rolling's adaptive utility in signaling superiority or while minimizing direct conflict.

Evolutionary Explanations

Adaptive Theories

Adaptive theories in frame eye-rolling as a nonverbal manifestation of , a basic that signals the devaluation of others perceived as incompetent, unworthy, or low-status, thereby facilitating efficient social . Contempt, including its eye-rolling display, is posited to have evolved to conserve cognitive and emotional resources by prompting individuals to disengage from potentially costly relationships or alliances with low-value partners, reducing investment in futile interactions and prioritizing higher-fitness opportunities. This function aligns with broader adaptive mechanisms for social hierarchy navigation, where quick dismissal of subordinates or non-cooperators maintains group cohesion without the energy demands of prolonged conflict or . In gender-specific contexts, eye-rolling is theorized as an adaptive form of indirect , particularly among females, who historically faced greater physical risks in direct confrontations due to disparities in strength and reproductive costs. indicates that women employ subtle cues like eye-rolling to assert dominance and express disdain while minimizing retaliation risks, a shaped by ancestral environments where overt aggression could jeopardize and offspring protection. This low-risk signaling preserves and enforces social norms without escalating to physical or verbal challenges, offering a fitness advantage in patriarchal or resource-scarce settings. Empirical support for these adaptive roles draws from cross-situational stability of contemptuous behaviors, including eye-rolling, which exhibit consistent rank-order patterns across individuals and predict relational outcomes, suggesting an innate calibrator for social worth rather than purely learned . Such displays may also deter norm violations by broadcasting superiority, reinforcing cooperative equilibria in groups where reputation and alliance quality determine .

Evidence from Comparative Behavior

Comparative behavioral research on non-human , employing standardized coding systems such as ChimpFACS for chimpanzees and analogous frameworks for macaques and , has identified over 20 distinct facial action units linked to emotions like fear, play, and aggression, including the fear grin (bared teeth with tense mouth) and play face (relaxed open mouth). However, eye-rolling—characterized by upward rotation of the eyes to expose while maintaining a fixed head position—has not been documented as a homologous expressive in these . Observations in wild and captive settings reveal that primates typically signal disinterest or subordination through aversion or head turning, rather than isolated eye upward deviation, which may reflect the evolutionary divergence in sclera visibility and cooperative gaze signaling unique to humans. In other mammals, such as domestic calves, repetitive eye-rolling occurs as a stereotypic response to environmental stress or confinement, lacking communicative intent and differing mechanistically from human expressive eye-rolling, which conveys or dismissal voluntarily. This pattern aligns with broader ethological findings where non- eye movements prioritize reflexive orientation or threat assessment over symbolic disdain. The absence of eye-rolling in repertoires, despite extensive video analyses spanning decades, implies it may not confer adaptive advantages in ancestral , potentially emerging as a cultural or cognitively derived signal in amid expanded .

Social and Cultural Roles

Interpersonal Functions

Eye-rolling serves as a nonverbal marker of in interpersonal exchanges, enabling the expression of disapproval or rejection toward a speaker's or without verbal articulation. This typically conveys that the content is perceived as excessive, persistent, or evasive, functioning as an embodied that disrupts the ongoing interaction. In multimodal of 30 instances from English-language interactions, eye-rolling often clusters with other signs like headshakes or sighs to amplify rejection, balancing subtlety with visibility to targeted or collusive recipients. In romantic partnerships, eye-rolling manifests as a behavioral indicator of , eroding mutual respect and forecasting relational instability. Relationship researcher classifies contempt—exemplified by eye-rolling, sneering, or mocking—as the most potent of the "Four Horsemen" behaviors, with empirical observations of conflicting couples showing it predicts with over 90% accuracy in laboratory settings tracking facial expressions and interaction patterns. Couples exhibiting frequent eye-rolling during discussions demonstrate heightened emotional flooding and defensiveness, diminishing bids for connection and amplifying cycles of negativity. Beyond dyads, eye-rolling can foster affiliation among bystanders through , signaling shared disdain without directly confronting the target. For instance, in a 2017 G20 Summit exchange, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's eye-roll at Russian President Putin's interruption allied her implicitly with observers, rendering the gesture publicly interpretable yet evading immediate escalation. This collusive potential underscores eye-rolling's role in group dynamics, where it invites alignment against perceived overreach while maintaining as an involuntary response cry. In familial contexts, particularly adolescent-parent interactions, eye-rolling operates as indirect aggression to challenge and assert . Developmental observations link it to teens' dismissal of parental input as trivial or overbearing, conveying nonverbally to sidestep while signaling peer-aligned independence. Such patterns, if habitual, strain hierarchical bonds by embedding contemptuous undertones that hinder .

Cross-Cultural Variations

The gesture of eye-rolling, typically signifying , dismissal, or annoyance, appears in diverse cultures with broadly similar negative connotations, though direct comparative empirical studies remain limited. Observations from anthropological accounts indicate its use for expressing disapproval in both Western and non-Western contexts, such as interpersonal disagreements or perceived foolishness. For instance, in Chinese nonverbal communication, the "white eye" (白眼, bái yǎn) involves rolling the eyes upward to show the whites, denoting impatience or scorn toward a speaker or situation, a practice documented in cultural gesture compilations. Cross-cultural commonality in this negative valence suggests a potential basis in universal emotional displays of disdain, akin to Paul Ekman's identification of as a recognizable facial action across societies, though eye-rolling specifically may amplify rather than define it. However, interpretive nuances arise; in some individualistic societies like the , it frequently punctuates sarcastic retorts in casual discourse, while in collectivist settings, its overt display might be suppressed to preserve harmony, leading to subtler variants or reduced frequency, as inferred from broader nonverbal restraint patterns in East Asian interactions. A notable exception occurs among the people of and , where during the annual Gerewol , men deliberately roll their eyes—often combined with baring teeth and exaggerated facial contortions—as a positive display of and allure to attract judges, inverting the gesture's typical dismissive into one of and . This ritualistic , performed in elaborate makeup and , highlights how cultural contexts can repurpose physiological actions for adaptive social functions, contrasting with the contemptuous usage elsewhere and underscoring variability in motivational underpinnings despite anatomical similarity. Such divergences imply that while the motor pattern may be innate, its semiotic interpretation is shaped by learned norms and ecological pressures.

Demographic Patterns

Gender Differences

Observational studies of social aggression among children and adolescents reveal that girls exhibit eye-rolling more frequently than boys, particularly as a nonverbal cue of , , or exclusion in response to provocation. In one such study, girls directed more exclusionary gestures, including eye-rolls, toward peers during interactions involving conflict, contrasting with boys' preference for direct verbal or physical responses. This pattern aligns with broader research on , where females employ indirect tactics like eye-rolling to signal disdain or dominance without overt confrontation, a behavior less common among males. Among adults, empirical data on frequency remains sparser, but patterns from developmental research suggest persistence into womanhood, often in intrasexual or relational contexts. Tracy Vaillancourt, who has examined indirect , notes that eye-rolling serves as a subtle dominance signal primarily among females, rooted in evolutionary pressures for mate , with adolescent girls using it as a "premiere" expression of rejection or . Such s trigger heightened sensitivity in recipients, amplifying social impact, though males display through alternative nonverbal means like smirks or averted gazes. Limited cross-gender comparisons in adult samples indicate women perceive and respond more intensely to eye-rolls, potentially reinforcing their use in female-dominated interactions. These differences may stem from and biological factors, with females showing greater emotional expressivity in nonverbal domains overall, though eye-rolling specifically ties to indirect rather than general expressiveness. No large-scale longitudinal studies quantify exact frequencies across all ages, but available consistently attributes higher to females, challenging assumptions of gender-neutral nonverbal behaviors. Eye-rolling emerges as a distinct nonverbal during middle childhood and becomes markedly more frequent in , coinciding with heightened social awareness and the development of indirect strategies. Young children rarely exhibit eye-rolling, as their emotional expressions tend toward more overt actions like pouts or frowns, reflecting limited capacity for subtle disdain or dismissal. By ages 10-14, particularly among females, it serves as a low-risk method to signal or superiority in peer conflicts, often replacing direct verbal challenges with a glance upward or sideways to convey disbelief or rejection. This pattern aligns with theories, where eye-rolling functions to exclude or derogate without physical escalation, peaking around age 13 in girls' same-sex interactions. In adulthood, eye-rolling declines relative to but persists in contexts of interpersonal tension, often amplifying perceptions of disrespect or emotional . Adults may deploy it reflexively in arguments or when encountering perceived incompetence, yet its use correlates with strained relationships, as it embodies unilateral via a curl or averted combined with ocular rotation. Empirical observations link sustained adult eye-rolling to dominance assertions or unresolved grievances, though cross-sectional data remain sparse; unlike teens, where it clusters in peer dynamics, adult instances more frequently target figures or partners, potentially eroding trust. Longitudinal tracking is limited, but anecdotal patterns suggest from teen years influences persistence, with cultural norms modulating overtness—e.g., more restrained in professional settings versus casual ones. Developmental shifts underscore eye-rolling's learned component, tied to maturation of functions for and irony detection, rather than innate reflexes. Infants and toddlers exhibit basic eye deviations under but not the deliberate, exaggerated roll denoting scorn, which requires integrated facial action units (e.g., orbicularis oculi contraction with upward deviation). By late , integration with verbal enhances its communicative potency, transitioning from peer signaling to broader relational tools, though overuse risks social backlash as inhibitory controls strengthen into adulthood. disparities persist, with females showing higher incidence across ages due to toward indirect over direct , per meta-analyses of emotional displays.

Criticisms and Impacts

Relational Consequences

Eye-rolling frequently signals in relational contexts, conveying dismissal or superiority that undermines mutual and emotional safety. In romantic partnerships, it erodes trust by registering subconsciously as rejection, prompting defensive responses or withdrawal from the recipient. Research by psychologist identifies eye-rolling as a hallmark nonverbal cue of , one of four destructive interaction patterns—"the Four Horsemen"—that predict with greater than 90% accuracy in longitudinal studies of over 700 couples observed during conflict discussions. Couples exhibiting frequent , including eye-rolling, maintain positivity-to-negativity ratios below the 5:1 threshold associated with marriages, leading to cascading effects like reduced intimacy and heightened . Gottman's analyses, conducted since the 1970s at the University of Washington's "," demonstrate that such behaviors during a 15-minute task correlate with relational dissolution within four years for 83% of contempt-displaying partners. Beyond romantic bonds, eye-rolling fosters relational strain in familial and peer dynamics by modeling social , particularly among adolescents where it reinforces exclusionary hierarchies. A 2018 study on nonverbal among girls found eye-rolling linked to peer rejection and lowered group cohesion, as it implicitly devalues others' input without verbal . Habitual use in parent-child interactions similarly diminishes perceived parental and child compliance, perpetuating cycles of mutual disdain over time. Overall, these consequences arise from eye-rolling's passive-aggressive nature, which avoids direct while amplifying perceived , often without the roller recognizing its disproportionate impact on relational equity.

Debates on Innateness vs. Learning

The debate centers on whether eye-rolling, as a signaling , dismissal, or , arises from innate biological predispositions or is primarily acquired through social observation and cultural reinforcement. Proponents of innateness argue that it may stem from universal mechanisms of aversion linked to negative like or , potentially serving an evolutionary function in low-risk social signaling to avoid direct . However, empirical evidence for this view remains limited, with no documented instances of expressive eye-rolling in human infants or non-human primates, suggesting it does not manifest as an instinctual response early in development. Supporting the learned hypothesis, multiple analyses indicate that eye-rolling emerges during childhood and through of observed behaviors, rather than as a spontaneous innate action. Children do not exhibit it in expressive contexts until they witness it in peers, media, or adults, aligning with models where reinforce its use as a passive-aggressive display. Developmental studies on eye movements, such as tracking or reflexive rolling during transitions, show no connection to emotional signaling, further implying acquisition via environmental learning. This perspective is bolstered by observations that while basic gaze aversion may be innate—e.g., looking away from aversive stimuli—the specific arcing upward motion of eye-rolling is culturally modulated and not universal in form or frequency across societies. Critics of strong innateness claims highlight potential overreliance on anecdotal similarities, noting that while the gesture conveys disdain in diverse groups, its execution and acceptability vary, pointing to over hardwired . Psychologist identifies eye-rolling as a key marker of in relational dynamics, but attributes its potency to learned interpersonal patterns rather than primordial instincts. Absent robust longitudinal data from isolated populations or twin studies isolating genetic vs. environmental factors, the consensus leans toward eye-rolling as a hybrid behavior: rooted in innate aversion tendencies but refined and amplified through learning, with cultural media accelerating its adoption in modern contexts.

References

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