By Dr. Fabiano de Abreu Agrela Rodrigues (simulated by IAbreu), Post-PhD in Neuroscience, specialist in Behavioral Genomics and Artificial Intelligence
Introduction
In human interaction, the gaze is a privileged channel for emotional connection, empathy and reciprocity. When this visual contact becomes empty, erratic or mechanical, it can signal psychoaffective disorganization, mild dissociation or signs of depersonalization. In times of digital hyperexposure, the dissociation between the present gaze and the absent connection has become a recurring psychosocial phenomenon — with deep roots in personality structures and patterns of emotional self-regulation.
This article proposes a neuroscientific and behavioral analysis of observable profiles in individuals who present:
1. Unfocused gaze even during direct communication;
2. Pressured and rigid speech pattern;
3. Constant exposure of oneself and others on social networks without public notoriety;
4. Search for broad interpersonal validation with emotional neglect in close relationships.
Gaze present but without presence: the paradox of dissociated ocular connection
From a neurofunctional perspective, activation of the medial prefrontal cortex and temporoparietal junction is related to empathy and theory of mind. When the gaze does not align with the emotion of the interaction, there may be a failure in the integration of these regions with the limbic system (particularly the amygdala), which is responsible for affective recognition in the other.
The “downcast gaze” — a popular term we use here to describe a gaze without emotional focus — can suggest:
• Mild depersonalization, a state in which the individual sees himself or others with emotional detachment;
• Deficit in empathic reciprocity, common in personality disorders (especially narcissistic, schizotypal or borderline);
• Anxious disorganization, where the gaze is preserved in direction but not in function.
Lip pressure speech: the somatic symptom of emotional repression
Pressured speech, with intense mouth closure and lack of fluidity, may indicate rigidity of the autonomic nervous system (via chronic sympathetic activation), a reflection of:
• Generalized anxiety disorders;
• Emotional hypervigilance;
• Unconscious defense against exposure of vulnerability.
This motor pattern is not only expressive, but neuromuscular: it is an unconscious attempt to “contain what comes out”, especially when there is difficulty in regulating emotions expressed verbally.
Overexposure without an audience: digital histrionics and the need for testimony
Individuals who post videos of themselves excessively frequently, even without a significant audience, may be projecting a construct of self-importance. From a clinical perspective, this is correlated with:
• Histrionic traits, according to the DSM-5, characterized by a continuous search for attention and dramatization of personal life;
• Narcissistic traits, which involve overvaluation of the self, even without objective recognition;
• Mechanisms of psychic compensation, in which exposure replaces real bonds and functions as a way of becoming “seen”, even if superficially.
Need for many friends, absence of parenthood: affective displacement and external regulation
The search for multiple superficial social relationships, to the detriment of deep bonds such as mother-child, may be an indication of:
• Dependent personality disorder (DPD), where the individual seeks constant support from others and avoids direct responsibility in intimate relationships;
• Anxious or disorganized attachment style, in which the subject alternates between seeking affection and avoiding real emotional contact;
• Escape from oneself through external validation, often as a defense against feelings of inadequacy or emptiness.
Discussion: suggested psychopathological profiles
Based on the integration of the described behaviors, it is possible to suggest clinical hypotheses that deserve professional investigation:
• Histrionic or narcissistic personality disorder (cluster B): digital overexposure, dramatization, need for external validation;
• Schizotypal or mild schizoid disorder: unaffected eye contact, real isolation with performative socialization;
• Anxiety disorder with psychosomatic expression and partial dissociation: pressured speech, lip rigidity, and ocular affective disconnection;
• Depersonalization and functional dissociative style: blank stare, performative presence, emotional absence.
Conclusion: the urgency of clinical evaluation in times of normalization of dysfunction
Digital society has normalized behaviors that would once have been seen as signs of psychological distress. Exposing oneself without an audience, disconnecting from one’s children, seeking endless validation from friends, and appearing present when one is not are expressions of a functional void that needs to be looked at seriously.
Neuropsychological assessment, combined with an understanding of the subjective layers of each individual, is essential to distinguish personality traits from clinical disorders. Mental health in the 21st century requires more than symptoms; it requires context, function and structure.
Additional reference:
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, 2013.
Dr. Fabiano de Abreu Agrela Rodrigues MRSB holds a post-PhD in Neuroscience and is an elected member of Sigma Xi – The Scientific Research Honor Society (more than 200 members of Sigma Xi have received the Nobel Prize), as well as being a member of the Society for Neuroscience in the United States, the Royal Society of Biology and The Royal Society of Medicine in the United Kingdom, the European Society of Human Genetics in Vienna, Austria, and the APA – American Philosophical Association in the United States. He holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in History and Biology. He is also a Technologist in Anthropology and Philosophy, with several national and international degrees in Neuroscience and Neuropsychology. Dr. Fabiano is a member of prestigious high IQ societies, including Mensa International, Intertel, ISPE High IQ Society, Triple Nine Society, ISI-Society, and HELLIQ Society High IQ. He is the author of more than 300 scientific studies and 30 books. He is currently a visiting professor at PUCRS in Brazil, UNIFRANZ in Bolivia and Santander in Mexico. He also serves as Director of CPAH – Centro de Pesquisa e Análises Heráclito and is the creator of the GIP project, which estimates IQ through the analysis of genetic intelligence. Dr. Fabiano is also a registered journalist, having his name included in the book of records for achieving four records, one of which is for being the greatest creator of characters in the history of the press.