I recently started an internship in an office. Because of a few things that happened to me growing up, I have a hard looking someone in the face when I am standing within an arms length of them. It takes focus for me not to look away.

One thing I have noticed is that, the people I introduced myself to by looking them right in the face treat way different. They announce their presence to me when they are in my space, chit chat for a minute, laugh at my jokes, women even touch me as they walk by, stuff like. The people who I did not successfully introduce myself to pretend I'm not there, even if they are next to someone who is treating me like an equal.

Is this really the power of an introduction? Can this be explained by something else?