Proxemics

Proxemics is the study of human use of space and the effects that population density has on behaviour, communication, and social interaction. Proxemics is one of several subcategories in the study of nonverbal communication, including haptics (touch), kinesics (body movement), vocalics (paralanguage), and chronemics (structure of time).

Overview

Edward T. Hall, the cultural anthropologist who coined the term in 1963, defined proxemics as "the interrelated observations and theories of humans use of space as a specialized elaboration of culture". In his foundational work on proxemics, The Hidden Dimension, Hall emphasized the impact of proxemic behavior (the use of space) on interpersonal communication.

Types of Space

Hall described the interpersonal distances of man (the relative distances between people) in four distinct zones: (1) intimate space, (2) personal space, (3) social space, and (4) public space.

Intimate distance

Intimate distance for embracing, touching or whispering

Personal distance

Personal distance for interactions among good friends or family members

Social distance

Social distance for interactions among acquaintances

Public distance

Public distance used for public speaking

Cultural Factors

Cultural factors are one of the key factors that affect a person's perception of space. Different cultures have different understandings and practices of personal space.

See Also

• Body language
• Nonverbal communication
• Personal space
• Social distance
• Edward T. Hall

References

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  Diagram illustrating personal space zones

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  Visual representation of proxemic distances

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  Proxemics: Personal space in different contexts