Spatial Relations, Pr

Spatial Relations, Proxemics, and Personal Territories in Interpersonal Communication
Spacial relations is a complex subject that can be interpreted in many different ways. A clear
explanation of spatial relations is easily understood with the study of proxemics. So what is
proxemics? Well the term proxemics came from E.T. Hall, a researcher in 1963. Proxemics is the
study of the nature, degree, and effect of the spatial separation individuals naturally maintain
(as in various social and interpersonal situations) and of how this separation relates to
environmental and cultural factors. Proxemics is made up of featured spaces: fixed space, semi-
fixed, and informal.
Space around a person is set up into zones representing comfort and non-comfort. Fixed spaces
are areas that are unmovable such as buildings and offices. Many simple things can change a
comfortable zone in a fixed area such as color. The use of color can have a major impact on our
comfort level. Restaurants, for example, focus on peoples' comfort level with how they paint
their buildings. Fast food such as McDonalds or Taco Bell cause people to rush in, eat fast, and
leave without a nice place to sit down because of their bright colors. Bright colors are disturbing
to the customers and even the workers. Other restaurants such as Ruby Tuesday's and Apple
Bee's stick with a nice color scheme that is both darker, mellow, and come off as a nice place to
enjoy your food. Restaurants like these have a higher employee turnover than fast food in the
food service industry.
Semi-fixed spaces serves as movable areas such as furniture. Office desks can be organized to a
persons' comfort zone. Chairs and desks are just physical barriers but can be broken to protect
personal space. As you might notice on a TV show or at a job interview, two chairs are usually
always on an angle and no more than 1 ½ feet from the main desk. This set up helps keep a
balance of dominance. A person at a desk compared to a person standing in front of him may
feel less dominant and unequal. Other areas of an office, such as lamps and filing cabinet are
usually placed in the corners because small areas, like corners, make a person feel enclosed and
small. Rearranging of furniture in an area helps keep balance over the persons' personal space
and semi-fixed spaces.
Informal spaces is personal territory, and a big part of proxemics. Personal territory is made up
of four categories: public, social, personal, and intimate. All of these spaces range differently in
amount of space. For instance public spaces ranges from 12-25 feet. Social space ranges from 4-
10 feet. Personal space ranges from 2-4 feet and intimate space ranges out to one foot and is
used mostly while touching.
Personal space, most commonly used, can vary both culturally and ethnically. In Saudi Arabia,
their social space is equal to our intimate space. If we were to back away from a person, we
would be known as rude. In the Netherlands, their social space is equal to our personal space.
Anglos communicate with each other, usually maintaining a distance of 36 to 48 inches, while
Hispanic tend to stand closer to each other at about l 8 inches. Anglos draw away during a
conversation because they seem uncomfortable when they are too close to a conversation
partner. The most widespread symbol of informal spaces across the world is a hand shake. For
example, a handshake in Spain is usually a double grip, but to a German, it would cause
confusion. Equally an even more stronger shake by a German would cause a Spaniard to get the
idea of being "over-friendly."
Individuals perceive a distance that they feel is appropriate for different type of messages and
personal interaction. A violation of such space can cause serious effects on communication. A
result of violation of personal space is social anxiety.
Social anxiety is the third largest psychological problem in the United States today. Social
anxiety is the fear of social situations that involve interaction with others. Someone with social
anxiety, for example, would feel uncomfortable with someone standing to close or thinking
everyone is looking at them, and feeling self conscience. A person feeling this way relates back
to personal space, and what is ok and not ok to pursue.
Humans are like animals. They make their ownership and territory and defend it against others.
While at work, many employees may feel invaded if someone stands behind them. They feel
uncomfortable and on the defense to protect their area. Also, while riding in an elevator or
subway, people have the tendency to keep themselves, or their territory held in. This reflex
reaction can decrease defense of a person. Police attack a suspects personal space to get their
guard down. An officer has psychological advantage because invading the suspects personal
space by sitting to close, or standing right over them causes them to have a decrease in their
defense and often confess because of invasion of their space.
Personal space also varies with females and males. From childhood, males and females are
taught communicative behaviors that are acceptable for boys but may be considered
completely inappropriate for girls. Their communication behaviors deal with their spacial issues.
Males need more space than women. That is why men are often hesitant to get close such as
cuddling. The time of day is also a factor. Males need more space in the morning as opposed to
women who need less. The reason men need more space is because most men suffer from
situational anxiety. Certain situations cause them to freeze up or back off. A woman likes less
space while something is bothering her and men like to be alone. Some bridges and barriers
men face are trust and caring. Through trust, one learns how to cope with problems and
resolve frustrations. Caring is often categorized by commitment. And the word commitment
usually scares away men.
Spatial relations, proxemics, and personal territories are all intertwined together to form a
similar explanation of communication between people. The simplest forms of social activity can
become uncomfortable situations because of invasion or social, public, personal, and intimate
territory. People constantly evolve from their environment, relationships, and areas. Wherever
a person is placed, they establish a feature space and respond to protect it. The study of
proxemics shows that people are more on a defense then offense. We need to take care of
each other and realize what space area is right for a certain person, and how we can keep
ourselves from invading it. Learning about each others spaces will enhance communication and
our lifestyles.
Bibliography:
Bibliography
▸Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster Dictionary Collegiate Dictionary Incorporated, 2001
▸Body Language, http://members.aol.com/katydidit/symblism.html
▸Burger, Henry., Ethno-Pedagogy: Cross Cultural Teaching Techniques. Albuquerque:
Educational Cooperative, 1968.
▸Pruit, Richard A., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, MA, 2000
▸Arliss, Laurie P., Gender Communication Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1991.

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Spatial Relations, Proxemics, and Personal Territories in Interpersonal Communication

▸Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster Dictionary Collegiate Dictionary Incorporated, 2001

▸Body Language, http://members.aol.com/katydidit/symblism.html

▸Burger, Henry., Ethno-Pedagogy: Cross Cultural Teaching Techniques. Albuquerque:

Educational Cooperative, 1968.

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