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Personal Space, Interpersonal Topics, Environmental Psychology, Spacing in People, Hidden Dimension, Interaction Distances, Communication Zones, Involvement Behaviors, Personal Space, Arousal and Anxiety. This handout is one of many lecturer provided in class of Environmental Psychology. Key points are given above.
Typology: Lecture notes
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Change to set of interpersonal topics in environmental psychology. Issues that come up only because and only when there are other people in the environment: personal space, territoriality, presence of others, and crowding.
Proxemics (spacing) first studies with other species – e.g., animals in their habitats, birds on a telephone line, and between people and animals – animal trainers, lions or tigers, and flight and fight distances.
Spacing in people not systematically studied until 1966 – anthropologist Edward Hall published Hidden Dimension about interaction distances – communication zones – intimate (0-18”); personal-near (1.5’ – 2.5’); personal-far (2.5’ – 4’); social (4’ – 12’); and public (12’ -- ).
Spacing = Distance + Immediacy or Involvement Behaviors
If spacing too close or too far Compensation (Argyle and Dean) May, under some circumstances Reciprocation (Patterson)
Personal Space:. Zone surrounding one into which another may not intrude without causing arousal and anxiety.
Bubble analogy: Bad in that it implies that one’s personal space is a constant and that another is either outside of one’s personal space or in one’s space. Good in that it implies that personal space is ego-centric; it moves with the person.
How measure personal space? Lab: (1) Simulation or Projective Techniques – easiest, but results are unreliable and effects of manipulations or instructions are not always consistent with effects using other procedures. (2) Stop-distance Procedure. What distance to measure? Problem of reactivity. But does seem to respond appropriately to manipulations. Field: Non-reactive. Field observation. Structured field studies
First discuss protective aspects of spacing vs. communication aspects. I.e., spacing in non-communication settings.
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Invasion leads to arousal – GSR, heart rate, etc. But gradual increase with decrease in distance. Not a sudden jump. Invaded person tries to reduce arrousal – distancing behaviors, blocking other, withdrawal. (Usually does not question invadee.)
Classic arousal study – Middlemist – Male lavatory: No invasion, far invasion, near invasion. Obtained results.
Why? Why this anxiety/arousal when another too near? (Cannot say ‘personal space invasion’, b/c that is circular. Question is: Why do we have a personal space zone?
Three (not mutually exclusive) theories or explanations: Overstimulation – Hall Threat Physical – physical harm – e.g., walking at night, other approaches. Psychological (Privacy) Middlemist study; bank line (not ATM) vs. cafeteria. Also threat of involvement Behavioral Constraint Inability to move reactance; if not successful arousal.
Variables affecting Personal Space – Link to explanations Environmental Effects: Personal Space larger in: narrow vs. square room; corner vs. center of room; indoors vs. outdooors (but vice versa for communication); low ceiling vs. high ceiling. -- fit with behavior constraint. Characteristics of Invader: Personal Space larger with: stranger vs. acquaintance; disliked vs. liked other; stigmatized vs. non-stigmatized other; handicapped vs. non-handicapped; odd unusual appearance vs. normal appearance; older (10) vs. somewhat younger (8) vs. young (5) child; -- fit with physical threat Characteristics of Person Being Invaded Personal Space larger with: external vs. internal locus of control; low vs. high self-esteem. Overstimulation: smoking, BO, perfume, flashy clothing, noise, worry about impending task.
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