Non-verbal interaction: The importance of respecting personal space

In the blog last week, we introduced an overview of the importance of non-verbal interaction in the process of interpersonal communication. More specifically, the claim that some cultures rely more heavily on non-verbal signalling in everyday encounters was illustrated in relation to the contrast between collectivist and individualistic cultures. Finally, it was emphasised that learning to become competent in non-verbal communication is significantly more challenging in the early stage of a new cross-cultural experience than the acquisition of basic verbal language abilities.

In the blog this week, we shall begin our exploration of this topic by focusing of the subject of variations in body space expectations that is formally termed proxemics. Our examination of this topic is based on research by the British social anthropologist Edward Hall.

Defining the concept of body space or proxemics

Examples of cultural variations in acceptable spatial distance between two people during interpersonal interactions is usually depicted by placing participants within an imaginary circle while the actual normative distances are measured in centimetres.

Then, what is deemed as appropriate social body space across cultures is divided into four distinct categories, though the distinction between the social and public spheres can be difficult to differentiate. Social distance relates to acceptable norms between people in a formal context such as the workplace, while public distance is focused on more casual daily encounters. Next is personal distance that occurs between friends and family members, while the final category is intimate distance such as between those in romantic public interactions.

At this juncture, it is important to note that even an inadvertent disregard of proxemic norms can trigger an experience of anxiety in one or both participants in some communicative interaction or even provoke outright culture clash resulting in the breakdown of relationships.

Some examples of Proxemic variations across cultures

Next, one brief example of proxemic distancing can be illustrated from the category of social distancing. Here, a large distance of around 120 centimetres is the norm in societies such as Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Uganda, and Pakistan. In contrast a comfortable social distance in Spain, Peru, and Argentina varies between 65 and 85 centimetres. Then, with reference to the intimate category, in nations such as Spain, Italy, and Greece, the acceptable distance can reduce to as little as 30 centimetres with Argentina allowing the closest space in such encounters. Finally, Saudi Arabia has the greatest distancing norms in all three categories.

It is also interesting to note that proximity expectations have a fundamental impact on everyday life that can be particularly challenging to new arrivals in an unfamiliar culture. One common example are the variations in around queueing norms. This behaviour is an important aspect of everyday daily life in countries such as the English-speaking nations and across all of Northern Europe. However, in other cultures such as Italy, Turkey and the Arab cluster of nations, such behaviour is almost non-existent to the point of seeming somewhat anti-social or aloof.

Consequently, new arrivals from, say, the UK can get extremely distraught when people seem to be clustering around some service or even apparently attempting to jump the queue to get to the front without regard to others. The confrontation between queuing and non-queuing cultures can be observed on an everyday basis in relation to street food vendors, supermarket checkouts, a variety of travel experiences, and ATM machines. Indeed, the joke aimed at us British is that even if we find ourselves on our own in front of some service access, we will still form an orderly queue of one.

Finally, the issue of proxemics connects directly to the topic of our blog next week on haptics, which is the extent to which physical contact with someone is either considered socially appropriate or frowned upon dependent on the cultural context.

Those wishing to learn more about this important issue of proxemics should refer to the book, The Hidden Dimension, by Edward Hall.

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Question 1

How might the cultural norms of appropriate body space influence a range of daily interactions?

Question 2

To what extent can violations of spatial expectations trigger emotional responses or even conflict?

Question 3

Why might contrasting behavioural norms about public physical contact result in culture shock?

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We shall explore Question 3 in the next blog.

Reference

Hall, Edward T. (1966). The Hidden Dimension. Anchor Books.