Personal Space
Team Space Jam
• Carri Rush, Kassandra Kush, Samantha Smiley, Sharron
Girardi, and Jeremy Howard.
INTRODUCTION
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Pro’s and Con’s of Personal space
Proxemics
Informal Space
Intimate Space
Social/ Consultative Space
Public Space
Pro’s and Con’s of Personal Space
Pro’s
• Easily Learned
• Relay information effectively
• Demonstrates awareness and control
Con’s
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Invisible boundaries
Boundaries differ
Constant awareness
Can be invaded
– Accidental
– Purposeful
– Different “bubbles”
Proxemics
• Proxemics – “the study of human use of space
within the context of culture” (Brown).
• Different culture use proxemics differently.
• Example, in the U.S, people stand a handshake
width apart or more when talking. In the
Middle East, people stand less than a foot
apart (Conaway & Morrison, 2004).
• Proxemics can cause communication barriers
between those who use it differently.
Definition of Informal Space
• The personal spaces around us.
• Three types:
– Intimate Space
– Social/Consultative Spaces
– Public Space
Intimate Space
• Our “bubble”
• This space may only be entered by those close
to us, such as family or close friends
• This is the space invaded by people of another
culture with different proxemic views.
Social/Consultative Space
• Comfortable distance.
• Easy distance for day-to-day communication.
• This space is used for acquaintances and
strangers.
Public Space
• An impolite distance.
• People standing this far away may be
perceived as rude.
• Too far away to establish meaningful
conversation.
CONCLUSION
• Be aware of others spaces.
• Do not stand too close but also do not stand
too far.
• Remember other cultures when thinking
about space.
Sources
Brown, N. (n.d). Edward T. Hall: proxemic theory, 1966. Center for Spatially
Integrated Social Science. http://www.csiss.org/classics/
content/13
Collins, A. (2003). Gestures, body language and behavior. New York: DKC.
Conaway, W and Morrison, T. (2004). The problems of proxemics. Kiss, Bow, or
Shake Hands. http://www.getcustoms.com/2004XE/
Articles/iw0100.html
Hall, E. T. (1963). A system for the notation of proxemic behavior. American
Anthropologist, 65, 1003–1026.