A staring contest is a battle of wills where opponents maintain eye contact until one looks away or breaks eye contact. Variations include prohibiting actions like smiling and talking, and some people even compete against animals. Staring contests are popular with kids and adults, and have even gained popularity on television. The National Association of Staredown Professionals (NASP) governs the rules for the staring contest.
A staring contest is a competition that can best be described as a battle of wills. To play this game, a person stares an opponent in the eyes and tries to survive him without looking away. This goes on until one of the opponents looks away or otherwise breaks eye contact. In some variations of this game, it also ends if one of the two opponents flashes. This variation of the staring contest ups the ante, making it necessary for opponents to fight not only the psychological urge to look the other way, but also the intense physical need to blink.
There are a few other variations on the staring contest as well. In most variations of the game, actions such as smiling, laughing, frowning and grimacing are not allowed. Talking, touching, winking and similar actions are also prohibited. In others, however, opponents may take these actions to try and gain an advantage in winning. Anything goes with actions and contact, as long as eye contact is maintained.
Surprisingly, some people compete in staring contests against pets, such as cats and dogs, as well as other animals. Animals tend to be much harder to defeat, as many of them can go on without flinching; this is due to the fact that some animals have several transparent eyelids. This allows them to go on for an extended period of time without appearing to blink. Interestingly, animals probably don’t have the same psychological problems maintaining eye contact that humans do, such as feeling vulnerable, emotionally exposed, or embarrassed. As far as humans are aware, they stare only to establish dominance or imply threat.
Staring contests have long been popular with kids, who often collapse into giggles. However, adults often participate as well, and many have almost as much difficulty avoiding fits of giggling. On the other hand, some adults have impromptu staring contests as a form of intimidation. For example, men may engage in a staring contest to prove who is stronger or more masculine, without engaging in actual physical combat.
The staring contest has even gained popularity on television. For example, some late night talk show hosts have indulged, playing games with their scheduled guests. There’s even a national association that officially governs staring contests. The National Association of Staredown Professionals (NASP) was founded in 1998 by Ernie Armstrong. The organization works to create and standardize the rules for the staring contest.
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