TPM on no-eye-contact. "low-ranking monkeys don't look at high-ranking monkeys."

[enough]

Josh Marshall has an interesting discussion of the eye-contact question, with video

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/220226.php

snip>

Here's one comment we got from TPM Reader EO ...

As a psychotherapist and someone who treats people with anger management problems, we typically try to educate people that anger is often an emotion that masks other emotions. I think it's significant that McCain didn't make much, if any, eye contact because it suggests one of two things to me; he doesn't want to make eye contact because he is prone to losing control of his emotions if he deals directly with the other person, or, his anger masks fear and the eye contact may increase or substantiate the fear.

I noticed him doing the same thing in the Republican primary debates. The perception observers are likely to have is that he is unwilling to acknowledge the opponent's legitimacy and/or is contemptuous of the opponent.

And here's another note from TPM Reader TB. I guess I'm really not sure quite how to characterize it ...

I think people really are missing the point about McCain's failure to look at Obama. McCain was afraid of Obama. It was really clear--look at how much McCain blinked in the first half hour. I study monkey behavior--low ranking monkeys don't look at high ranking monkeys. In a physical, instinctive sense, Obama owned McCain tonight and I think the instant polling reflects that.

snip>

more

[Olney Blue]

1. So we're going from a chimp to a monkey?

[orleans]

2. um...we'd better not. n/t

[Frustratedlady]

3. That cements the idea that McGoof and Bush are joined at the hip.

Monkey see/Monkey do.

Obama is getting great mileage out of McGoof's refusal to look him in the eye. It is yet another example of McGoof's lack of qualifications to be president of anything.

He's done.

[enough]

4. I've always thought that non-eye-contact suggests fear or subservience.

I've been surprised that most people seem to see it as a sign of arrogance.

[goodgd_yall]

5. On what the psychotherapist said:

What was said about eye contact and why McCain did not want to make it---losing control of his emotions and/or it might substantiates his fear---sounds right-on just from my own observations (I'm not a mental health professional, but I like to study these things as a layperson and find my own reflections about myself a good source of understanding other people's behavior). Which brings to mind how it seems Obama is a healthy human being psychologically. I came to that conclusion during the primaries when comparing Hillary and Obama's behavior. That, in itself, gives me hope and happy anticipation for his presidency.