why rolling your eyes is so instinctual when you are annoyed or frustrated

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My 17 month old daughter has started rolling her eyes during moments of frustration or when she is annoyed with me or my husband. There’s no way, at 17 months old, that that is intentional, I imagine it’s more instinctual. And, tbh, when I find myself suppressing an eye roll of my own, it feels like I’m fighting a natural urge. Maybe I’m just dramatic?? Lol

In: Biology

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Before we developed words, we had non verbal communication. Eye contact was usually involved in establishing dominance, e.t.c, so a lot of signals from there were sure to pop up.

Psychologists note that females, especially young ones, are fast more likely to roll their eyes at something, so it’s been suggested it’s a way to say “I’m not even going to *look* at you that’s so dumb”, but without looking like a challenging glare is being made, or on the reverse, looking submissive by looking down.

No concrete answer out there, though, far as I know.