[Issue No. 10] A Socio-Psychological Analysis of 'Floor Indicator Staring Behavior' in Elevators. Fictional Economics Research Institute, Closed Space Behavior Department, Lead Researcher Noboru Tojito

Abstract

This study addresses the phenomenon where people in an elevator stare at the floor indicator lamp with unnatural intensity until they reach their destination floor. Observational survey results reveal that 79.2% of passengers stare at the floor indicator at least once during their ride, and that this staring continues for a duration far exceeding the practical purpose of 'checking the floor number.' This study interprets this behavior as 'the floor indicator as a destination for gaze avoidance' and positions it as a form of avoiding eye contact with others in a confined space.

Keywords: elevator, gaze behavior, personal space, confined space, social avoidance

1. Introduction

Elevators create a situation rare in daily life: sharing a confined space with no escape with total strangers at an extremely close distance. The behaviors people exhibit in this situation—silence, standing upright, and staring at the floor indicator—are empirically well-known, but there is little research that systematically analyzes their psychological functions. In particular, the question of 'why do people repeatedly check the destination floor they already know on the indicator lamp' cannot be explained from the perspective of utility.

2. Hypotheses

• H1: The duration of staring at the floor indicator significantly exceeds the time required to actually check the floor number.

• H2: Staring behavior becomes more pronounced as the number of fellow passengers increases.

• H3: The primary purpose of staring is not to check the floor, but to 'secure a legitimate object to direct one's gaze toward.'

3. Survey Results (Fictional)

We observed the gaze of subjects during their ride and categorized where it rested:

'Making eye contact with fellow passengers' is only 2.2%.People disperse their gaze to all sorts of harmless objects to avoid eye contact. The floor indicator functions as the most legitimate destination for this avoidance.

4. Discussion

The essence of staring at the floor indicator lies not in information acquisition, but in 'creating a social alibi for one's gaze.' Making eye contact with others in a confined space implies implicit social contact, which for many people involves mild tension. Therefore, people need an object that allows them to maintain the appearance that 'I am checking the floor number, not avoiding you.' The floor indicator is an ideal refuge for the gaze that satisfies three conditions: (1) it involves the natural action of looking up, (2) a practical excuse is established, and (3) it hurts no one.

Regarding H2, the staring rate was significantly higher when there were three or more fellow passengers than when there was only one. This suggests that because the risk of eye contact increases in proportion to the number of fellow passengers, a stronger alibi is required.

5. Conclusion

'Floor indicator staring' is a social ritual for avoiding eye contact in confined spaces. In an elevator, people are not looking for their destination, but for 'a place to put their eyes.' Future research is expected to compare this with gaze avoidance behavior in other proximity spaces, such as on escalators or near bus straps.

References

[1] Tojito, N. (2021). 'Social Functions of Gaze in Proximal Spaces.' Journal of Fictional Spatial Behavior, 10(1), 33-49.
[2] Eye-Aversion Study Group (Eds.) (2020). Anthropology of Where to Look: Gaze Dynamics in Confined Spaces. Fictional Press.