Abstract: Performed a series of 5 field experiments to test the hypothesis that avoidance behavior is elicited in human Ss by staring. In each experiment, E stared (experimental group) or did not stare (control group) at people (N = 450) stopped at a traffic light, and measured their speed across the intersection when the light changed. Es rode a motor scooter or stood on the street corner. Ss were pedestrians or automobile drivers. Presence vs. absence of staring, sex of E, and sex of S were varied. In all experiments, crossing time was significantly shorter in the stare conditions. Main effects and interactions for sex disappeared when 4 male and 4 female Es were used. Crossing time was significantly shorter when Ss were stared at than when they were confronted with an incongruous situation which did not involve staring. There was no correlation between staring time and crossing time.