A normal conversation between strangers involves more than talk.
A
normal
conversation
between
strangers
involves
more
than
talk
.
It also involves the dynamics of space interaction.
It
also
involves
the
dynamics
of
space
interaction
.
If one person gets too close, the other person will back up.
If
one
person
gets
too
close
,
the
other
person
will
back
up
.
If the first person invades the other's space again, the other person will back up again.
If
the
first
person
invades
the
other
's
space
again
,
the
other
person
will
back
up
again
.
The person who finds himself or herself backing up is trying to increase the distance of the comfort zone.
The
person
who
finds
himself
or
herself
backing
up
is
trying
to
increase
the
distance
of
the
comfort
zone
.
The person closing in is trying to decrease that distance.
The
person
closing
in
is
trying
to
decrease
that
distance
.
Most likely neither person is fully aware of what is going on.
Most
likely
neither
person
is
fully
aware
of
what
is
going
on
.
In the 1960s, American anthropologist Edward T. Hall was a pioneer in the study of human behavioral use of space.
In
the
1960s
,
American
anthropologist
Edward
T.
Hall
was
a
pioneer
in
the
study
of
human
behavioral
use
of
space
.
His field of study became known as proxemics.
His
field
of
study
became
known
as
proxemics
.
Hall said that personal space for people in the United States can be defined as having four distinct zones: the intimate zone within 18 inches of your body, for whispering and embracing; the personal zone of 18 inches to four feet, for talking with close friends; the social zone of four to 10 feet, for conversing with acquaintances; and the public zone of 10 to 25 feet, for interacting with strangers or talking to a group.
Hall
said
that
personal
space
for
people
in
the
United
States
can
be
defined
as
having
four
distinct
zones
:
the
intimate
zone
within
18
inches
of
your
body
,
for
whispering
and
embracing
;
the
personal
zone
of
18
inches
to
four
feet
,
for
talking
with
close
friends
;
the
social
zone
of
four
to
10
feet
,
for
conversing
with
acquaintances
;
and
the
public
zone
of
10
to
25
feet
,
for
interacting
with
strangers
or
talking
to
a
group
.
Historians say that our standards of personal space began with the Industrial Revolution in the 18thcentury.
Historians
say
that
our
standards
of
personal
space
began
with
the
Industrial
Revolution
in
the
18thcentury
.
In cities such as London and New York, people of different social and economic classes were suddenly crammed together, so they unconsciously developed a commonly understood code of courtesy to restrict the space around them.
In
cities
such
as
London
and
New
York
,
people
of
different
social
and
economic
classes
were
suddenly
crammed
together
,
so
they
unconsciously
developed
a
commonly
understood
code
of
courtesy
to
restrict
the
space
around
them
.
People exhibit nonverbal messages of discomfort when their zones are violated.
People
exhibit
nonverbal
messages
of
discomfort
when
their
zones
are
violated
.
Invaded people might tap their toes, pull at their hair, become completely rigid, or even become angry.
Invaded
people
might
tap
their
toes
,
pull
at
their
hair
,
become
completely
rigid
,
or
even
become
angry
.
As hall noted in his landmark work, a comfortable conversation needs to include the parameters of human personal space.
As
hall
noted
in
his
landmark
work
,
a
comfortable
conversation
needs
to
include
the
parameters
of
human
personal
space
.
A normal conversation between strangers involves more than talk. It also involves the dynamics of space interaction. If one person gets too close, the other person will back up. If the first person invades the other's space again, the other person will back up again. The person who finds himself or herself backing up is trying to increase the distance of the comfort zone. The person closing in is trying to decrease that distance. Most likely neither person is fully aware of what is going on.  In the 1960s, American anthropologist Edward T. Hall was a pioneer in the study of human behavioral use of space. His field of study became known as proxemics. Hall said that personal space for people in the United States can be defined as having four distinct zones: the intimate zone within 18 inches of your body, for whispering and embracing; the personal zone of 18 inches to four feet, for talking with close friends; the social zone of four to 10 feet, for conversing with acquaintances; and the public zone of 10 to 25 feet, for interacting with strangers or talking to a group.  Historians say that our standards of personal space began with the Industrial Revolution in the 18thcentury. In cities such as London and New York, people of different social and economic classes were suddenly crammed together, so they unconsciously developed a commonly understood code of courtesy to restrict the space around them.  People exhibit nonverbal messages of discomfort when their zones are violated. Invaded people might tap their toes, pull at their hair, become completely rigid, or even become angry. As hall noted in his landmark work, a comfortable conversation needs to include the parameters of human personal space.