“Beliefs of Children and Adults About Feeling Stares of Unseen Others”, 1996 (; similar):
Three studies investigated participants’ beliefs about feeling the stares of an unseen other, which was apparently first examined by 1898.
Results: showed that most adults believed they could feel the unseen stares of another. Young children frequently responded similarly, although across age there were some increases in beliefs about feeling unseen stares. Several aspects of participants’ theories about feeling stares from an unseen other were also studied. Findings suggested participants believed that in order to feel stares, some cognitive maturity was required, it was important to have seen the starer, and thinking on the part of the starer was not important. Participants also believed that stares of animals could be felt.
The age trends present a challenge to traditional developmental theories of cognition, which generally assume more rational behavior with advances in age, and they suggest broadening the bases for conceptualizing theories of mind.