Yes, some blind people may feel your face to gain information about your appearance and identity.
While not all blind individuals do this, feeling someone's face can be a way for them to "see" and understand what a person looks like. Since they cannot rely on visual cues, touch becomes a valuable tool for perception. This tactile exploration helps them to form a mental image.
The process is similar to how sighted individuals might examine an unfamiliar object by touch. The blind person might gently trace the contours of your face with their fingers, paying attention to features like:
- Shape of the nose: Is it long, short, wide, or narrow?
- Position and size of the eyes: Are they close-set or wide apart? Deep or protruding?
- Cheekbones: Are they high or low? Prominent or subtle?
- Mouth and lips: Are the lips full or thin? Wide or narrow mouth?
- Hairline and facial hair: The texture and style of hair and any facial hair provides a lot of information.
- Overall bone structure: The general shape of the skull and underlying bone structure provide a framework.
This tactile information helps them create a mental representation of your face, allowing them to better recognize and remember you. It's important to approach this interaction with patience and understanding, allowing the blind person to explore your face comfortably. Not every blind person will feel your face, but it is a practice that some may use. The practice is not that different from putting your hand in a "sensory mystery box" (0:06) to help you to recognize what is inside.
