1. VIDEO (Sienfeld)
2. Whatit is
a. EdwardHall coined the term “proxemics” while teaching at the Illinois Institute ofTechnology in Chicago
b. Useof physical space
c. Thedistance we put between ourselves and others
d. Thestudy of how communication is affected by the use of organization andperception of space and distance
e. Thisis heavily influenced by factors such as sex, perceived status, topic ofconversation, surrounding noise, etc.
i. Examples: speaking with a professorvs. roommate, talking about someone who might be just around the corner,liberty construction,
f. Invisiblebubble/ personal space
i. We think of this space as our own,almost as much as our bodies
ii. Vary in size depending on culture,person we are with, and situation
1. Variesgreatly between individuals
iii. If invaded…
1. Experiencestress
2. Respondwith barrier behaviors
a. Backaway, place object between, decrease eye contact, sneeze/cough/scratch, leave,counterattack gently (with a comment) then more forcefully (possibly a shove)
3. Hallcompared the habits of proxemics in people to animals with their territorialbehaviors in reference to fight or flight behaviors when frightened
3. VIDEO (Bubbles)
4. EdwardHall’s 4 different distances (not set in stone, differ between individuals andcultures)
a. Publicdistance
i. Public speaking situations
ii. 12-25 feet or more between speaker andaudience (over 3.6m)
iii. 2-way communication is almostimpossible
iv. Speaker is no interested in dialogue
v. Necessary for a speaker to reach alarge audience
vi. Many teachers use this in a classroom
b. Social/Formaldistance
i. Speakers are formal and moreconversational than the public distance
ii. 4-12 feet, about 2 arm lengths
iii. Interviews, committee meetings, in aprofessor’s office
iv. Typically the distance of standingwith people you don’t know well
v. Although students have reported theyprefer teachers to approach the class within this distance over the publicdistance that is more common.
c. Personal/Informaldistance
i. Communication is less structured, morerelaxed, includes a lot of interaction, bringing up/questioning evidence,asking for clarification
ii. 18 inches-4 feet, a handshake away (inU.S. culture)
iii. 2 colleagues discussing mutualconcern, roommates discussing a problem they share
iv. Distance of standing during friendlygatherings
v. Usually means something more than casualconversation
d. Intimatedistance
i. Whispering, not wanting others tohear, secret conversation
ii. Skin contact-18 inches, 2 fists
iii. Communicators share similar aims andthe message is usually not questioned by the receiver
iv. Those who are emotionally close to youare allowed here
1. Voluntary:a sign of trust
2. Involuntary:feelings of threat
5. Differencesin culture
a. Culture:learned knowledge used to interpret experience and to generate behavior
b. People’sbeliefs are shaped differently in different cultures
c. Notjust countries or states but even within our individual families and how we areraised
d. Itusually takes an outside observer to spot our unquestioned cultural practices
e. Contactculture vs. noncontact culture
i. Contact culture: culture where peopletend to stand close together and touch frequently
1. SouthAmerica, Middle East, Southern Europe
ii. Noncontact culture: people tend tomaintain more space and touch less
1. GreatBritain, Far East, Japan, United States
f. Westernvs. Indian
i. Western: it is acceptable for a manand a woman to be together in public and engage in intimate contact
ii. Indian: there could be seriousconsequences
g. Westernvs. Latin America/France
i. Western: shake hands while maintaininga certain amount of physical space
ii. Latin America/France: kissing on thecheeks (gender does not matter)
1. Problemsarise when a westerner unknowingly backs up and is perceived as rude
6. VIDEO (Car/Culture)
7. MichaelArgyle’s Equilibrium Theory
a. Commonsense observations
b. Notionthat any relationship can be plotted on a scale showing the degree of intimacy
c. Youwill adjust your nonverbal actions to maintain that degree of intimacy
i. Using distance and eye contact
8. JudeeBurgoon’s Nonverbal Expectancy Violations Model
a. Predictsthat in some cases, breaking the rules will help the offender reach a communicationgoal
b. Beginswith same assumption as Hall
i. There is a culturally appropriatedistance at which one should interact
c. Withincultures there are wide individual differences
d. Distanceviolations are highly ambiguous
e. Expectancyviolations will cause arousal and distraction
i. Depending on the goal: could bepositive or negative
f. Burgoon’sadvise: “Don’t do it” -> conform to spatial expectations
g. Ifyou are liked, physical closeness can be translated into a psychologicalcloseness which means greater understanding, trust, attitude change, etc.
9. Biblicalexample
a. Luke8:43-47 (NIV)
i. Woman bleeding for 12 years touchedJesus’ cloak in the midst of a huge “crushing” crown -> Jesus still noticed
ii. “As Jesus was on his way, the crowdsalmost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject tobleeding for twelve years but no one could heal her. She came up behind him andtouched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Whotouched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, thepeople are crowding and pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touchedme, I know that power has gone out from me.” Then the woman, seeing that shecould not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In thepresence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she hadbeen instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healedyou. Go in peace.””
iii. Intimate distance
iv. Even with a crushing crowd around him,Jesus still noticed this woman.
10. Sources
a. Persuasion: Reception andResponsibility 13thed. Charles U. Larson
b. Interplay: The Process ofInterpersonal Communication Adler, Rosenfeld, Proctor
c. Proxemics.weebly.com
d. Coms-group-o3.blogspot.com
e. Afirstlook.com
f. Schoolbytes.com
g. Bible
h. Youtube.com
