Some men are much worse than average at detecting negative reactions (like fear) in the person they are talking to.
So, when a woman has a negative reaction to something in a conversation, it starts to get creepy when the man does not notice that reaction and persists in the behavior that caused the reaction. I gets creepier fast when the woman reacts more strongly than the first time and the man continues to persist.
I’m guessing too, but the creepiness reaction has a large component of disgust/revulsion—it isn’t just about fear.
I’ve been trying to think of portrayals of creepiness, and whether it can be done in a movie (or might it be pheromones?)-- it’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but iirc, Beetlejuice is an example.
Successful movie portrayal of creepiness: Anakin Skywalker, in Attack of the Clones. Critics commented on the surprising lack of chemistry between Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman; I think the “romantic” scenes achieved exactly what they were supposed to.
Here is a wild guess about creepiness.
Some men are much worse than average at detecting negative reactions (like fear) in the person they are talking to.
So, when a woman has a negative reaction to something in a conversation, it starts to get creepy when the man does not notice that reaction and persists in the behavior that caused the reaction. I gets creepier fast when the woman reacts more strongly than the first time and the man continues to persist.
Just guessing.
I’m guessing too, but the creepiness reaction has a large component of disgust/revulsion—it isn’t just about fear.
I’ve been trying to think of portrayals of creepiness, and whether it can be done in a movie (or might it be pheromones?)-- it’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but iirc, Beetlejuice is an example.
Successful movie portrayal of creepiness: Anakin Skywalker, in Attack of the Clones. Critics commented on the surprising lack of chemistry between Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman; I think the “romantic” scenes achieved exactly what they were supposed to.