A method for detecting objects of interest, the method comprising: receiving gaze tracking data of a person looking at a collection of objects, the gaze tracking data comprising data points, which indicate a focus point, at which the person is looking, and information about a peripheral view, wherein the peripheral view is modeled with an area surrounding the focus point and excluding the focus point; determining a map of objects in the field of view of the person, the map of objects indicating, at which position an object in the collection of objects is arranged; determining gaze interaction events for objects in the collection of objects by matching the gaze tracking data to the map of objects, wherein a gaze interaction event for an object indicates that a specific gazing interaction has occurred with respect to the object; determining category characteristics for the objects having gaze interaction events, wherein a category characteristic describes the object with respect to a specific object category; determining an involvement level for the objects having gaze interaction events, wherein only objects with an involvement level higher than an involvement level threshold are considered to be objects, the person is interested in; determining a negative involvement level for the objects having gaze interaction events based on the model of the peripheral view, wherein objects with a negative involvement level higher than a negative involvement level threshold are excluded from objects, the person is interested in; determining at least one category characteristic of interest by finding at least one category characteristic which is assigned to the plurality of objects, which have gaze interaction events indicating the person is interested in these objects. receiving gaze tracking data of a person looking at a collection of objects, the gaze tracking data comprising data points, which indicate a focus point, at which the person is looking, and information about a peripheral view, wherein the peripheral view is modeled with an area surrounding the focus point and excluding the focus point; determining a map of objects in the field of view of the person, the map of objects indicating, at which position an object in the collection of objects is arranged; determining gaze interaction events for objects in the collection of objects by matching the gaze tracking data to the map of objects, wherein a gaze interaction event for an object indicates that a specific gazing interaction has occurred with respect to the object; determining category characteristics for the objects having gaze interaction events, wherein a category characteristic describes the object with respect to a specific object category; determining an involvement level for the objects having gaze interaction events, wherein only objects with an involvement level higher than an involvement level threshold are considered to be objects, the person is interested in; determining a negative involvement level for the objects having gaze interaction events based on the model of the peripheral view, wherein objects with a negative involvement level higher than a negative involvement level threshold are excluded from objects, the person is interested in; determining at least one category characteristic of interest by finding at least one category characteristic which is assigned to the plurality of objects, which have gaze interaction events indicating the person is interested in these objects.