In many Western societies including the United States a person who does not maintain good eye contact is regarded as being slightly suspicious or a shifty character. Americans unconsciously associate people who avoid eye contact as unfriendly insecure untrustworthy inattentive and impersonal. However in contrast Japanese children are taught in school to direct their gaze at the region of their teacher is Adam is apple or tie knot and as adults japanese lower their eyes when speaking to a superior a gesture of respect.