Starkey (1969) defined personal space as the physical space immediately around the body and noted that people often treat this space as if it were part of the body. Further, there appears to be an equilibrium level of physical proximity. In general, communicating persons 2 feet apart tend to increase the distance, but those 10 feet apart tend to decrease it.
In other words, people have preferred distances for social interaction depending upon who they are with and in what activity they are engaged. And, as noted by Starkey (1969), they will engage in a variety of behaviors designed to maintain that amount of personal space with which they feel comfortable.
This paper examines the various non-verbal communications people use to regulate their personal space. This examination is followed by a brief summary of the reviewed material. The third and final section of the report provides a real-life application in which people are observed as they attempt to regulate their personal space.
Nonverbal Behaviors Used To Regulate Personal Space
Worchel (1986) reports that the primary way in which people regulate personal space is by choosing the amount of distance they desire between themselves and another with whom they are interacting, with some people desiring more distance than others. However, Worchel (1986) notes that the distances people choose can and will vary depending upon a variety of factors.
These factors include: (1) the amount of social isolation experienced by the person prior to the interaction, with greater personal distances being desired by social isolates; (2) the degree to which people believe the interaction will be observed by others with greater personal distances preferred when interactions are being observed; and (3) the length and topic of the conversation, with the greatest distance being chosen when people expected a long conversation that focuses on a personal topic.
Eye contact and...