- We're going to talk about proxemics,
or the distance that people prefer between themselves
and other people.
It's a key part of communication and daily interaction.
I'm working out of Beebe & Masterson's book
on Communicating in Small Group, but this research
is in numerous books across the field.
So let's get into it.
(upbeat music)
So the key point here, the overarching idea,
as we look at all of these things
is that the amount of space that we put between ourselves
and others depends upon a lot, like the relationship,
the situation, the context.
If you were in, for example, a crowded room,
like a crowded nightclub, you would allow
and feel okay with much more personal contact
with other people,
than you would if you were in an outdoor park
or other kinds of big public situation.
So it really depends on a lot of factors.
Nevertheless, there are some norms
that we are going to look at.
Proxemics, quickly put, is the study of how close
or far we choose to be from other people and objects.
And studying proxemics helps us understand our own use
of personal space and gives us clues
about our relationship with other people.
Edward T. Hall developed this research.
He came up with the four zones of space.
The closest is the intimate zone,
between 0 and 1.5 feet,
the personal zone, which is 1.5 to 4 feet,
the social zone, which is 4 to 12 feet,
and beyond that is the public zone, beyond 12 feet.
So we're going to look at each of these
and what they all mean in order.
So first, let's look at the intimate zone.
This is between 0 and 1.5 feet.
So 0 means you're probably touching,
and most personal and intimate conversations
happen in this distance.
We see this distance between friends and intimate partners,
best friends, in fact,
and parents and young children, especially.
And we only really see it in group situations
and in a work situation,
let's say, if somebody is leaning in to whisper something
to somebody for just a moment.
This is the distance where kisses and hugs happen.
This is the distance where headbutts happen.
So this is an extremely intimate zone,
where almost anything can happen,
and which is why we allow very few people
into this intimate zone.
The second zone is the personal zone.
This is 1.5 feet to 4 feet.
Conversations with family and close friends
happen in this zone.
In groups, let's say you're in a group setting,
you might be this distance from other people,
but some people in the group may feel
that this is too personal.
This kind of space is a bit too close.
This is the distance where handshakes happen,
high-fives happen, a slap on the back would happen
for a good job.
This is also, though, fighting distance,
which is why not everybody is comfortable with it.
If somebody is close enough to punch you or kick you,
then there is a bit of vulnerability we may feel
when we're in this personal zone.
Number three is the social zone.
This is 4 to 12 feet.
Most group interactions happen in this zone.
This is where interactions with coworkers
and other kinds of professionals occurs.
This is close enough to pass objects back and forth,
close enough to sit around a table,
close enough to talk to somebody across a desk
in an office situation.
Still, sometimes, because it's 4 to 12 feet,
sometimes it's a little too close to people,
if people are jammed in there.
And so what you'll see is often people trying
to maintain their territory in very specific ways.
For example, they might make big gestures
to claim a little bit more space around them.
They might place objects, like they might put a coffee mug
in a certain position so that no one comes into that space.
They may lay their papers and notebooks
out around a table that way.
They may choose a certain seating arrangement
that helps them maintain a little bit more space.
This is the social zone.
And because it happens in the workplace,
and it has such a huge expanse from 4 to 12 feet,
you see a lot of maneuvering around this distance.
And then the last one is the public zone,
12 feet and beyond.
Teachers and public speakers often stand this distance
when we're interacting with each other.
This is the distance you'd likely choose,
however, if you were in an almost empty restaurant,
or an almost empty library or museum.
Certainly, if you were outdoors in some public situation,
you would be 12 feet and beyond.
If you get closer than this in one of those
public situations, where you don't have a relationship
with other people,
usually there's a pretty good reason for it,
like there's a big crowd there.
Otherwise, we choose lots of space.
So why does this matter?
Well, our increased awareness of the kinds of proxemics
preferences that we have and others have
will help us to adjust to other people
in conversations and in relationships.
For example, you may want to respect other people's needs
for more space.
Usually people have a comfortable distance
that they're willing to be to someone else.
They have a bubble and you don't want to enter that bubble
unless the other person seems like they want
to be that close to you.
So the key tip takeaway here,
especially when you're getting personal,
is it's riskier to get too close to somebody,
to stand too close, than it is to maintain
a slightly more respectful distance.
So don't get too close too fast.
Make sure you maintain a distance
and let the other person adjust to you as well.
So question of the day,
have you ever gotten feedback on your personal use of space?
Do you stand too close?
Do you stand too far?
I would love to hear your comments and your comfort level
with distance to other people in that comment section below.
So, thanks. I will see you soon.
Take care.