Virtual lab home | Assignments & due dates Personal Space - background

Think about how you feel invading another person’s space and having your own space invaded. The point where you have the feeling that someone is standing too close is your personal space boundary. Typically distances will be longer in front than at the sides and greater when the partner has eyes open rather than eyes closed. Previous research has shown that individuals from Latin cultures often have small interaction distances. They sit and stand closer, than do people from Anglo cultures. There are interesting effects when people are paired with others from different ethnic groups with different concepts of personal space.

In general people stand closer to those like them and further away from those who differ from them. Gender affects distance in complex ways. Other things being equal, female-female pairs tend to have smaller interaction distances than male-male pairs, and the distance between female-male pairs depends on the relationship between the pair. Tall height and bright clothing increase interaction distance whereas sunglasses (similar to the eyes closed condition) decrease distance. A status difference is also likely to increase interaction distance.

Edward Hall in his book "The Silent Language" describes interpersonal distance as a form of nonverbal communication, a means by which we indicate our interest or lack of it in other people. The concept has also been viewed developmentally according to social learning theory. Children learning spacing rules from their parents, initially through nonverbal means, such as a frown or raised voice when the child stands too close or too far away, and later through explicit instructions (e.g. the admonition to "Stay away from strangers"). Researchers have found that children’s interpersonal distance increases with age and by puberty tends to resemble that of adults. Some see personal space as a form of self-protection, as a way to reduce emotional or physical threats, or simply as a means to protect one’s privacy.

Experimental invasions have been staged in elevators, libraries, parks, sports dressing rooms, and many other settings. People whose space has been invaded typically leave sooner than control subjects. Do you think invading the space of people who did not consent to participate in a psychological experiment is a violation of ethics?

Return to the personal space experiment page.