You can experience it any time you are in a public place. It could be a near-empty bus, and suddenly, another passenger steps in and walks straight to the vacant seat beside you. It could be in a big store while waiting for your turn to be attended to.
Another customer walks in and takes a position just few steps behind you and starts a disturbing telephone conversation. There is a thousand-and-one scenario like this; of course, we don’t really feel comfortable with them. Often, we get anxious, alarmed and perhaps infuriated. It’s all the outcome of personal-space invasion.
Virtually, in every society, the way we relate or interact with others is governed by our definitions of personal space. Each of us nurses unexpressed expectation that we would obtain at least, a little haven around our bodies; therefore, when someone seems to invade that haven by coming too close or when their body seems to touch ours by way of unplanned extension, we feel an intrusion has occurred.
How we perceive personal space is among the most powerful forms of showing unexpressed words. Somehow, we anticipate that others should get the signals and play by the rules. Most of us react negatively when our physical space is invaded; this is also the case when our psychological space is violated – e.g. disturbing fragrances, sounds, as well as unpleasant sights. Lecherous gazes, intense perfume or loud music all have a way of intruding into our psychological space and upsetting us.
Our study on how personal space works have revealed that it is possible to foretell someone’s choice of stall when the person steps into a public restroom, and the seat that would mostly appeal to someone in a communal gathering. We have also found out that there is an amazing similarity in the way people respond to the personal-space invasion.
Expert’s View about Space
The term ‘Proxemics’ is a coinage by Edward Hall (a renowned anthropologist). According to Edward Hall, proxemics is the study related with the distance between individuals during interaction. Hall observed that the posture, body language as well as personal space need of individuals varied slyly based on their specific situations.
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