Sunday, January 31, 2010

PERSONAL SPACE IN COMMUNICATION

Each and every one of us surrounded by zone of psychological comfort. This zone varies depending on which situation we are in; who are the people we talking to. The amount of space we are use while interacting may tell in which kind of relationships we are with this person, because physical distance is correlated with social distance.


The personal space around our body includes a number of concentric circles where the closer areas are reserved for more trusted people. If you are closer to me, you may attack me, so I will seek to keep close areas safer by forbidding all but approved friends.
Hall (1966) found four key zones:
  • Intimate: touching to 10 inches. For close friends and family.
  • Casual-personal: 18 inches to four feet: Informal conversation with friends.
  • Social-consultative: four to twelve feet: formal transactions.
  • Public: Addressing groups of people.
Note that this distance can vary significantly. Extraverts, for example, may have smaller distances whilst introverts may prefer to keep their distance. People who live in towns and cities are used to squeezing closer to people so have smaller spaces, whilst country people stand so far apart they have to lean forwards to shake hands.
In addition, the distance varies greatly with nationality. For example the casual-personal distance may be:
  • North America: 18 inches
  • Western Europe: 14 to 16 inches
  • Japan: 36 inches
  • Middle East: 8 to 12 inches
For close conversation, an appropriate proximity needs to be sustained. If the distance is too far, then the person may be seen as 'stand-offish' or distant (perhaps insultingly so).   
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