Research suggests that staring is also linked to the brain's default mode network (DMN), which is responsible for introspection, mind-wandering, and social cognition. When we're in a state of relaxation or boredom, our brains tend to enter the DMN, leading us to gaze blankly into space or at others. This can result in staring at strangers without even realizing it.
Outside of the cinema, staring at strangers is a bizarre social dance. Staring at Strangers
Other ways to describe a character looking at things/people : r/writing Research suggests that staring is also linked to