Outline.

1. Proxemics.

2. Distances—intimate, personal, social, public.

3. Spaces—informal, semifixed-feature, and fixed-feature.

4. Territoriality and personal space.

1. How much of the space on our planet do you call your own? How much space do you carry around with you? Are there times when people encroach on your space? In his book The Hidden Dimension, Edward Hall uses the term proxemics for human beings' "use of space." Thus, proxemics refers to the space that exists between us as we talk and relate to each other as well as the way we organize the space around us in our homes, offices, and communities.

Distances—intimate, personal, social, public

Hall identified four different distances that we keep between us and other peo­ple, depending on the type of encounter and the nature of the relationship:

Intimate distance: 0 to 18 inches Personal distance: 18 inches to 4 feet Social distance: 4 to 12 feet Public distance: 12 feet to limit of sight

Intimate distance ranges from the point of touch to 18 inches from the other person. At this distance, physical contact is natural. We can wrestle, and we can make love. At this distance our senses are in full operation. They are easily stimulated but also easily offended if we find ourselves in an uncomfort­able situation. Have you ever had someone come too close to you and wanted that person to "back off? Did you yourself back away? Sometimes we are forced to endure intimate distance between ourselves and strangers in crowded buses, trains, and elevators. How do you feel and respond in such situations?

Hall's personal distance ranges from 18 inches to 4 feet. When communi­cating at this distance, you can still hold hands or shake hands with another person. This is the most common distance between people talking informally in class, at work, or at parties, and we are apt to conduct most of our conversa­tions within this range. If you reduce personal distance to intimate distance. you are likely to make the other person feel uncomfortable. If you increase it. the other person is likely to begin to feel rejected.

Hall's social distance ranges from 4 feet to 12 feet. At the social distance— in contrast to personal distance—we are not likely to share personal concerns. By using social distance, we can keep people at more than an arm's length. Thus, this is a "safer" distance, one at which we would communicate informa­tion and feelings that are not particularly private or revealing. Many of our conversations at meals and at business conferences or meetings occur within this space. In business, the primary protector of social space is the desk. O: course, the greater the distance between people, the more formal their encounters. (At a social gathering, you can normally tell how well people know one another by examining how close they stand to each other.)

Public distance (12 feet and farther) is commonly reserved for strangers with whom we do not wish to have an interaction. Distances at the farther enc. of the range are well beyond the area of personal involvement and make inter­personal communication very unlikely. People waiting in an uncrowded lobby for an elevator frequently use public distance. It can be assumed that if a per­son opts for public distance when he or she could have chosen otherwise, tha: person does not care to converse.

What happens when we violate distance norms? Researchers tell us that the outcomes of such violations can be positive. For example, if the approaching person is perceived to be attractive or a high-reward source, our evaluation o: the approacher may become more favorable, especially if the distance violation is accompanied by other behaviors such as compliments.

The concept to remember regarding intimate, personal, social, and public distances is that "space speaks." Becoming aware of how people use space anc of how you can use it can improve your communication.