I’ve seen toddlers of both sexes use this expression in an attempt to get their way.
But tough luck kid! You can’t pet the kittty! It’s my kitty and no one can pet him but me!
I am a pro at this look, but i don’t use it very often. the first time i did it, i didnt even realize i was doing it. i think i wanted to go somewhere with my SO right before he brought me home. he said no, we pulled onto my road, I unknowingly gave him the look, and he crumbled. I can know even make my eyes watery. he begs me not to use the look. it makes him feel evil.
I think that you’re absolutely right that the puppy eyes are fueled by an idea that the person performing them is weak, helpless, and dependant on you to protect and fix. An important componant of The Look is that it is directed upwards. I don’t think you can do the sad look while looking down, unless you tilt your chin so the eyes are still looking up.
We are biologically programmed to protect small children, with their big, helpless eyes, so maybe The Look is triggering that impulse.
I think it is learned because, i cannot do that. OTOH, when you have your bangs cascade over one eye, it would be a bit more difficult.
I did a little experiment.
I pretended that I was in a situation where I wasn’t getting what I wanted. I look in the mirror.
The look I saw could be best described as arrogant puzzlement: “How odd. It appears that my Imperial wishes are not being catered to. I wonder if the situation will right itself” turning either to either faintly peeved crestfallenness: “Well, if it can’t be done, it can’t be done. But I still don’t like it” or frustrated frowning “Oh go on. Go on go on go on. Why not, eh? Why the hell not?”
The man of the house, on the other hand, tries to use every trick in the book of Pathetic Emotional Blackmail to get what he wants. I am slowly weaning him out of this behaviour by telling him when he’s doing it, and that I don’t approve of emotional blackmail. It’s a habit though, so it’s hard to break overnight.
If only we could sublimate the dominant/submissive power relation into the sex life, and keep it there instead of having it mess up the day to day doings of life. But unfortunately he isn’t into that sort of thing in a sexual context - well nothing involving physical pain at least, and I do like to get physical when I dominate. Perhaps it’s time for another Little Talk about roleplay.
Hope that wasn’t too much sharing.
Yes, ‘the eyes’ have been used on me by various girlfriends, some when we were pretty darn young (early teens). I just stare back blankly. Unless there’s a reasonably good reason for the eyes, and I feel somewhat guilty about the issue, in which case I’ll probably fold instantly.
Ahh! That name alone made me ‘give in’ to the woman you’re talking about, and I’ve never even met her.
I’m capable of two emotionally-laden looks: the sideways look, wherein I communicate that at the moment you’re not even worth my bothering to turn my head to look at you, and the Russian down-the-nose look (which I can pull off even though I’m only 5’5". My mother trained me well).
I’ve been told that my sad look ( I call it puppy eyes) can be very effective. I just look up at the guy, make my jaw tremble, make tears come to my eyes, and ask “please” in a pleading voice. It works.
i have the look down, but i mostly use it on my older sister. whenever i want her to do something she doesn’t want to do, i whip it out. i tilt my head to one side, raise my eyebrows in the middle, make my eyes as sad as possible, and say in a small voice, “please, jessca?” (note the missing i in “jessica”.)
she almost always responds by saying, “ugh! i hate you! you can make me do anything!” in half-mock frustration. and then she does whatever i wanted :0)
Sadly I never got a chance to learn it. My frown was such a perfect upside smile it always made my mom laugh. Dad and sister were absolutely immune. Thankfully due to my sister I too am immune. Remember that Seinfeld where the girlfriend of this guy cries and then he asked her for her french fries? That’s me.
Only look I ever learned was the one eyebrow raised. I’m right eyebrowed.
Is this a version of the ‘staring over the tops of your eyeglasses’ dubious look? I really love that one.
That is a good look, but no, it’s not like that. It’s more a “do I want to bother hacking off your body parts with a rusty axe, you worthless waste of skin, or would I rather go have lunch?” look. Utter, utter contempt. 
I can do “sad eyes”, but I, to, am better at “The EVIL EYE LOOK OF DEATH, DESTRUCTION, AND PESTILENCE”
I used to CARRY my girlfriend to class when she sprained her ankle and didn’t like crutches. I think she could have gotten me to cluck like a chicken.
Wow, thats the best one yet. A true tribute to the power of “the look.”