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
[edit]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
[edit]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]
Evolution
[edit]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.[9] 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.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b O'Connor, Roisin (18 February 2016). "Why do people roll their eyes? Psychologist suggests theories for passive-aggressive sign in teenage girls". The Independent. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
- ^ "P. Vergilius Maro, Aeneid, Book 12, line 919". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
- ^ "THE RAPE OF LUCRECE". shakespeare.mit.edu. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
- ^ LaFrance, Adrienne (May 11, 2016). "Why 13-Year-Old Girls Are the Queens of Eye-Rolling". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
- ^ Wickman, Forrest (16 January 2013). "Oh, Please: When did we start rolling our eyes to express contempt?". Slate. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Kahlbaugh, Patricia E.; Haviland, Jeannette M. (1994). "Nonverbal communication between parents and adolescents: A study of approach and avoidance behaviours". Journal of Nonverbal Behaviour. 18 (1): 91–113. doi:10.1007/bf02169080. S2CID 15487200.
- ^ Wong, Brittany (9 May 2016). "This Behaviour Is The #1 Predictor Of Divorce, And You're Guilty Of It". Huffington Post. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Illinois Town Wants To Outlaw Eye-Rolling". 21 July 2010. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ Bess, Gabby (18 February 2016). "Evolution Explains Why Women Love Rolling Their Eyes So Much". Broadly - Vice. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ Wickman, Forrest (15 January 2013). "When Did We Start Rolling Our Eyes to Express Contempt?". Slate. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Rolling eyes at Wikimedia Commons
