It’s all in the eyes - Eye Accessing cues

Figuratively, the ‘eyes are the windows to the soul’. Anatomically, the ‘eyes are the window to the brains’ but today, ‘the eyes are the windows to the thoughts’. There are times that we hear the saying, ‘your eyes gave you away’. This is not just some romantic movie line, it also has a scientific backdrop.

NLP makes use of eye accessing cues. There are certain mental processes that are associated with eye movements. These eye accessing cues gives an insight as to what a person may generally be thinking. Thus, there is a general trend that is associated with certain thoughts; however, this is not taken as universal. At the same time, these cues are according only to Western studies, and are yet to expand to universal status.

Here is some particular eye accessing cues. There are several representational systems that are also associated in analyzing eye accessing cues, these representational systems are visual, auditory (both tonal and digital) and kinesthetic. In some cases, the olfactory and gustatory are also in play. These are important elements to have a successful assessment of eye accessing cues.
While analyzing eye accessing cues, it sums up with the representational systems. Say, a person asked about a particular visual detail would either left or right, but is most usually in upwards direction. A level eye movement, whether left or right, would indicate an auditory system. Eye accessing cues that go downwards left is more of an auditory digital system. This is identified with having an internal conversation or conflict. While downwards direction which goes to the right is more identified with kinesthetic.

The kinesthetic is more identified with grasping concepts. In some cases, the eye accessing cues would reveal that flicker to the left is more on remembering certain pictures, while upwards direction with a right flicker would entail constructing a picture. There are also observable movements which are associated with smell and taste. Thus, the more common notion of lying if the eye goes upward direction to the left.

Take for example, if asked for a description of Christmas. An upward direction, whether left or right, would give a visual description like snow or Santa Clause. If there is a level eye movement, then there is bound to have an auditory related response like Holiday carols or Santa’s laugh. If there is a downward eye direction going to the left, then there is probably a solemn experience, say a marriage proposal during Christmas vacation, that is reflected upon by the person. Other eye accessing cues is when there is a downward then right flicker, which would probably have a response that would tell about the feel of the surroundings.

Eye accessing cues reveal some of the mental processes. Then, NLP would gain from this process. This matching of the eye movement to what people are supposed to be thinking is called calibration. Eye accessing cues can actually be learned and eventually, with much practice, people would be able to tell what a person thinks with the use of their eye movements.