Week 6: Response to "Personal Space Differences"

2/14/19

Big love, apparently, is in mutual trust and respect towards each other's personal space -Johnny Deep

Professor Ivers talked about Personal space differences. The term generally refers to the physical distance between two people in a social, family, or work environment. In some places, there's hardly any personal space, and in some places, there's a lot of serious implication to not having personal space. According to research conducted by Dr. Holt and her colleague, and reported in the Journal of Neuroscience, part of the neural response to human faces moving towards us -into our personal space - involves the activation of particular neural network - the pariental-frontal network. There is a defined distance in which we are comfortable with the approach of a stranger. when an unfamiliar face passes that comfort zone, the neural signals begin to fire, creating feelings of discomfort, irritability, and anxiety. 

 

Debby Mayne gave us 12 general rules of personal space: 
These rules vary according to culture and location, so they're not etched in stone, but they can be basic rules:

1. Never touch anyone you don't know. 
2. Don't reach for anyone else's children, regardless of your intentions.
3. Stand at least 4 feet away from a person unless you know him or her well.
4. When someone leans away from you, you are probably in that person's space that makes him or her uncomfortable. Take a step back.
5. if you walk into an auditorium or theater that isn't crowded, leave an extra seat between you and the next person. However, it is acceptable to sit next to someone if the room is crowded. 
6. Never lean over someone else's shoulder to read something unless invited.
7. Never go through anyone else's personal belongings.
8. Don't allow your dog to go to the bathroom on someone else's property.
9. Acknowledge personal space on the road. Don't tailgate when driving.
10. Don't fling your arm around someone's shoulder or slap anyone on the back unless you know the person very well.
11. Don't enter a room or office without knocking first.
12. Don't cut in front of people in line. 

Dr. Frias and her colleagues at the University of California Davis found that when we feel securely connected to others, we are more comfortable setting boundaries than if we feel either insecurely or ambivalently attached.

We can do:

1. Identify and accept your personal boundary needs.
2. Be polite but firm.
3. Start with something small.
4. know what do you mean when you say "yes".
5. Stop feeling guilty.

According to the American anthropologist Edward Hall, whose 1960s research on the topic still stands today, we actually enveloped by bubbles of four different sizes, each which applies to a different set of potential interlopers. He put three theories High/Low context, Monochrone/Polychrone Conception of time and proxemics, and personal space varies depending on the culture. 

Bubbles of four different sizes (Zone Distances):

• Intimate distance - 6 to 18 inches (15-45 cm) This level of physical distance often indicates a closer relationship or greater comfort between individuals. It often occurs during intimate contacts such as hugging, whispering or touching. 
• Personal distance - 1.5 to 4 feet (45-120 cm) Physical distance at this level usually occurs between people who are family members or close friends. The closer the people can comfortably stand while interacting can be an indicator of the intimacy of the relationship.
• Social distance _4 to 12 feet (1,20m-3,50m) This level of physical distance is often used with individuals who are acquaintances. with someone you know fairly well, such as co-worker you see several times a week, you might feel more comfortable interacting at a closer distance. In cases where do not know the other person well, such a postal delivery driver you only see once a month, a distance of 10 to 12 feet may feel more comfortable.
• Public distance - 12 to 25 feet (3,50 m -7,50 m) Physical distance at this level is often used in public speaking situations. Talking in front of a class full of students or giving a presentation at work are good examples of such situations. 

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