Title PROXEMICS IN CROSS-CULTURAL CONTEXT

Author(s) Uza, Tokuyu

Citation 沖縄短大論叢 = OKINAWA TANDAI RONSO, 10(1): 1-15

Issue Date 1996-03-01

URL http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12001/10668

Rights 沖縄大学短期大学部

PROXEMICS IN CROSS-CULTURAL CONTEXT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

I. DEFINITION OF PERSONAL SPACE

II. PERSONAL SPACE VERSUS TERRITORY

III. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES REGARDING

PERSONAL SPACE

IV. CREATION OF PERSONAL SPACE

V. INTRUSIONS ON PERSONAL SPACE By People

By Shapes

By Animals

VI. OCCASIONS REQUIRING ADEQUATE

PERSONAL SPACE In Strict Privacy

Bad Breath Or Body Odor

Psychological Condition

VII. OCCASIONS REQUIRING FORFEIT OF PERSONAL SPACE

Vlll. OCCASIONS REQUIRING FORFEIT OF PERSONAL SPACE

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

- 1 -

Tokuyu Uza

INTRODUCTION

This paper is written for individuals who are going to foreign countries

due to their business, education, family, and any other reasons which make

them travel abroad. Every country has its own clutural differences. To

understand this difference in culture is a puzzlement and frustration to

people when and if they do not know how to manage the situation.

To live in a different culture productively is like going through a maze

without going back and forth. It may take time to find out which way is

closer and easier, but once one finds on easy path, understands the rules,

directions, and angles to get though the maze one will develop a thorough

understanding of the maze. There are many things one ought to know when

living in a foreign country. In this paper, we shall examine the subject of

proxemics.

Edward T. Hall who is the specialist in Personal Space has given the

special name of proxemics to the study of space. (Tubbs, Stewart L, and

Moss, Sylvia, 1980 p. 169). Proxemics are broad, therefore, it will be

narrowed down to personal space. Every single person has their own

personal space, but most do not realize that they have personal space even

though they feel uncomfortable if someone invades their personal space. In

this research we shall analyze the following: I . Definition of personal space,

II. Personal space versus territory, III. Cultural differences regarding

personal space, IV. Creation of personal space, V. Intrusions on personal

space, by people, by shapes, and by animals,VI. Occasions requiring

adequate personal space, in strict privacy, bad breath or body odor, and

psychological condition,VII. Occasions !equiring forfeit of personal space,

and VIII. Cultural adjustments to personal space.

- 2 -

I . DEFINITION OF PERSONAL SPACE.

Edward T. Hall's perspective of communication is that; communication

is a multichannel affair. Hall believes that just as language varies from

culture to culture, so do the other interacting media. Specifically,

proxemics refers to the use of space in communication. "Proxemics is the

term I have coined for the interrelated observations and theories of man's

use of space as a specialized elaboration of culture" (Hall, 1966. p.l).

According to Hall (1963), another definition is that the proxemics is the

study of how man unconsciously structures microspace and the distance

between men in conduct of daily transactions, the organizations of space in

his house and buildings, and ultimately the layout of his towns. Although

this definition of proxemics is broad, most of the work in the area has been

limited to the use of interpersonal space.

Edward T. Hall and Mildred R. Hall (1985) said, every individual has

around himself an invisible bubble of space that contracts and expands

depending on several factors: his emotional state, psychological state, the

activity he's performing at the time and his cultural background. This

bubble is a kind of mobile territory that a person will defend against

intrusion.

Robert Sommer's (1969) concern is with personal space, "an area with

invisible boundaries surrounding a person's body into which intruders may

not come" (p.26). In effect, he says that the concept of personal space can

be thought of as a person's portable territory, which each person carries

along wherever he or she may go. Therefore, the personal space is the space

that the individual has and that space is occupied by themselves. It is

impossible to measure the presonal space because it is an "invisible, flexible

bubble that surrounds us" (Hickson Ill, Mark L, and Stacks, p.40).

- 3-

II. PERSONAL SPACE VERSUS TERRITORY

The main difference between the two is that the territory is

uncarryable but visible, whereas, the personal space is carryable but

invisible. Usually the term "territory" is used in geographical sense.

The most important difference is that personal space is carried around

while territory is relatively stationary. The animal of man will usually

mark the boundaries of his territory so that they are visible to others,

but the boundaries of his personal space are invisible. Personal space

has the body at its center, while territory does not. (Sommer, 1969, p.

248)

This is the most accurate definition and distinction between the personal

space and the territory. In addition to Sommer's interpretation,

anthropologist, Presley added "territory is a concept of a geographical

location" (1990).

III. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES REGARDING PERSONAL SPACE

Psychologically, a person's space helps them to feel secure, private and

comfortable by defining their distance from other people. This distance is

different in each culture, for example:

Two Venezuelan students had just been in trod used to an American

woman in the cafeteria. As they talked to their new acquaintance, they

stood very close to her. The woman kept moving away a few inches.

They came closer, and she moved away again. When their conversation

was finished, one of the students commented, 'She didn't seem very

insterested in what we were saying, did she?' 'Maybe she was a littel

afraid of us,' his friend said.( World Speak: "International Sleuth". 7)

- 4-

For these two Venezuelan students the personal space was not as large as

that for the North American. Therefore, the two Venezuelan students were

trying to approach to the point which is their personal space, but in order

for them to gain or attain their personal space they had to break into the

American's personal space. The North American desires to keep her

personal space and if someone who does not have a close relationship with

her approaches, she will move away to keep her personal space.

The problem is that they have enculturated defferent concepts and

values of personal space. These two variables are not tought in school, but

are something that individuals acquire through their own clutures. On the

other hand, target cultre can be acculturated. According to Fraida and

Elite:

Culture learning is a natural process in which human beings internalize

the knowledge needed to function in a societal group. It may occur in

the native context as enculturation or in a non-native or secondary

context as acculturation. Fundamentally, learning a first culture is a

process of indoctrination. Enculturaion builds a sense of cultural or

social indentity, a network of values and beliefs, patterned ways of

living, and, for the most part, ethnocentrism, or belief in the power and

the rightness of native ways. Acculturation, on the other hand, involves

the process of pulling out the world view or ethos of first culture,

learning new ways of meeting old problems and shedding ethnocentric

evaluations. (1990, p. 55)

This means that an individual's behavior reflects one's way of living. In

addition, Fraida and Elite, Ryan and Cooper (1984) defines how culture

influences individual's behavior in everyday life:

By culture we mean the system of norms and standards that a society

- 5-

develops over the course of many generations and that profoundly

influences the everyday behavior of people in the society. More simply,

culture is as people do. (p.l51)

This phrase states that people will behave differently in different countries:

If there was an international meeting with people who do not know about

personal space, there will be a misunderstanding and pressure by their need

for personal space. "That most people do not know what they are doing

with their bodies when they are talking" (P. Ekman and W. V. Friesen, 183).

According to Littlejohn (1989), "American culture utilizes four discernible

distances: intimate (0 to 18 inches), personal (11/2 to 4 feet), social (4 to 12

feet), public (over 12 feet)" (p.64). The use of personal space is the most

noticeable behavior in cross·cultural meeting.

IV. CREATION OF PERSONAL SPACE

The following represents one example of the techniques of how

individuals create personal space not only in the library but also in the

office, restaurant, and airport.

A person can sprawl out, resting his legs on the chair next to him. If

he gets up from the table, he may "reserve" his place by spreading out

his books and papers or leaving a jacket draped over the chair he was

sitting in. How far you go in defending your personal space will depend,

of course, on both your personality and your communication style. If

you sit too close to me in the library, I may get up and move. But

reverse our roles and it's possible you might glare at me and even

spread out your notebooks and papers so that they take up a good part

of the table" (Tubbs, Stewart L, and Moss, Sylvia, 1980 p. 173).

- 6-

This manner of creating personal space is easier for most people because

they can make preparation before someone tries to invade his/her territory.

Yet, after they have encountered someone's innovation to the territory, it is

too late to spread out their notebooks and papers. However, if they had the

same concept of personal space, they would not have to worry at all, but if

they did not have the same cultural concept of personal space they may

suffer trying to keep their own intact. For instance, when the North

American wants to talk with a Latin American, the North Amreican's

comfortable distance is approximately 3 feet to 5 feet, but it is an

uncomfortable distance for the Latin American so he moves forward to

make the distance closer. When the Latin Amreican gets close enough to

feel comfortable, the North Amreican feels uncomfortable so he moves

back a couple of steps until he is comfortable. They continue more or less

dancing across the floor of the room until the North American has his back

against the wall and cannot go any further. The Latin Americans distance

for personal space is approximately "half of an arm's length" (da Silva,

Sofia). There is a small difference in the distances but from

the psychological perspective, there is a tremendous difference. Hall (1959)

argues:

Americans who have spent some time in Latin America without

learning these space considerations make other adaptations, like

barricading themselves behind their desks, using chairs and typewriter

tables to keep the Latin Amreican at what is to us a comfortable

distance the result is that the Latin American may even climb over the

obstacles until he has achieved a distance at which he can comfortably

talk. (p.l85)

Presley said, "personal space is extremely important in dealing with people

- 7-

across cultures". Furthermore, Presley mentioned his own method of

avoiding the disaster of infringement to his personal space in his office

setting:

When someone comes into my office for the first time, I maintain the

distance of about four feet. I don't know this person. If my desk were

in the middle of the room or if I had a larger office, I would probably

have that person sit down on the other side of my desk, in front of the

desk, and I would sit behind the desk and that would be about five feet

away, but this is such a small office, I can't do that. What I normally

do when someone comes in is sit down and lean back (there are no

objects between them). That increases the distance; this is my personal

space. (1990)

When individuals have a conversation, their personal space will be

determined by their distance of eye contact. People do not pay much

attention to their body's distance becouse when they are having a

conversation they will focus on the listener's eyes. Therefore, they cannot

see or do not pay attention where their legs or hands are. This is especially

true if there was a desk between the two individuals. Their legs could be

within one-inch of each other but if they do not know that they will not feel

offended by someone intruding to their personal space. Sometimes a person

can feel that someone is in his personal space because, "space is perceived

and distances are set not by vision alone but with all senses" (Hall, Edward

T, and Hall Mildred R. p. 82). For these reasons, there is more personal

spaces in front than behind because we cannot see from the backside of our

do by.

- 8-

V. INTRUSIONS ON PERSONAL SPACE

By People

The psychological concept of personal intrusion is only perceived by an

individual if the intrusion is seen. Even if a stranger was standing right in

front of you, and he was not in your sight for some reason or if you do not

feel him in terms of senses, the infringement of the personal space will not

occur.

While you are closing your eyes you cannot tell whether someone is in

your personal space or not, and most of the time you do not suspect that

someone is in your personal space until you open your eyes or they engage

in some kind of haptical behavior. Therefore, when you open your eyes and

someone was there, you will feel frightened, and insecure even if you know

the person. Futhermore, if someone invades your personal space without

you noticing, a physiological reaction shall occur. The unexpected fact may

cause you to jump due to the surprising incident. These emotional feeling

and behavior occur becouse you feel like someone is trying to dominate or

attack you by getting into your personal space.

By Shapes

People can get feightened when there is an unexpected object in their

personal space even if an object is harmless. In many cases, the level of

surprise or tension depends on the size of object, For instance, if the object

is larger than the person he will most likely be intimidated by the object. On

the contrary, if the object is smaller than a dog he probably will remain

cool, but it really depends on the object, one's personality, and the

circumstances. If the object looks wild, a person will try to create a large

distance in order to defend themselves. Personal space is very important to

all animals to keep one's rights. "Our discrimination of distances is

dependent on the size of the retinal image provided by an object" (Ittelson,

- 9-

p. 44). People react to an object actively not passively. A person will

always create the needed personal space, he will not merely stand there.

"When an individual reacts to an object or situation, his whole body reacts"

(Watson. p. 252).

By Animal

In American society a lot of people have pets. They know how to treat

their own pets, therfore, they give a certain amount of space to them, but

they do not know how to deal with other animals. When individuals

encounter an animal on the street people tend to make their personal space

as large as they can becouse of the fear of being attacked by the animal. If

you were close to the animal the animal will perhaps feel like you are trying

to dominate them so the animal might get aggressive toward you to avoid

a domination. Freedman (1975) explains how behavioral and psychological

response will be effected by domination. "As the space gets smaller,

feelings of territoriality are aroused an aggression automatically occurs" (p.

24).

A mad dog can kill human, and peole know it, however it is difficult to

determine whether a dog is a mad dog. Therefore most individuals are very

cautious when dealing with dogs or any other animals which they are not

familiar with. Knowing the safety that space provides, people generally

keep their distance from strange animals:

... the animal attacks when the space he is protecting is trespassed

upon. If the amount of space is largely irrelevant, a much simpler

explanation would be that the animal is quite sensibly protecting his

young, his mate, his supply of food, or whatever else he considers

necessary for survival. As long as these are protected, he will not

attack. (Freedman, p. 29)

-10-

A dog is large enough to frighten people, but people also can be

frightened by small creatures, for instance, a cockroach. A cockroach is a

harmless creature, in terms of offense, but most people hate them, so that,

when people see a cockroach in their kitchen or in a room, they frantically

attempt to kill the insect. People can move into the cockroach's space to

kill them, but when and if the cockroach invades their personal space the

people will scream and run away to keep the cockroach out of their

personal space.

VI. OCCASIONS REQUIRING ADEQUATE PERSONAL SPACE

In Strict Privacy

When people want to hide from others they tend to create as much

personal space as they can, and, if the space is not large enough to hide in,

they will use their body to make even more personal space. Furthermore,

this space will be private so that no one can intrude. For example,

student's behavior during an intensive examination or in the men's rest

room.

Bad Breath or Body Odor

When you communicate with someone who has either bad breath or

body odor, you try to keep your distance from him so that you cannot smell

the stench from him. On the other hand, if the person does not notice his bad

breath or body odor, you may unconsciously create larger personal space

than you normallly make. "Everyone tries to adjust the space around

himself in a way that's comfortable for him; most often, he does this

unconsciously" (Hall, Edward T, and Hall Mildred, Reed Hall. p. 79).

Psychological Condition

Emotions also have a direct effect on the size of one's personal space.

-11-

When you are angry or under stress, your personal space expands so that

you requier more space. In this condition, you do not want to associate

withe anyone and therefore you express your feelings by expanding your

personal space. Anyone who comes into their personal space is actually

disturbing their feelings and such an intrusion may trigger a violent

outburst.

New Yourk psychiatrist Augustus Kinzel found a difference in what he

calls Bidy-Buffer Zones between violent and nonviolent prison inmates.

Dr. Kinzel conducted experiments in which each prisoner was placed in

the center of a small room and then Dr. Kinzel slowly walked toward

him. Nonviolent prisoners allowed him to come quite close, while

prisoners with a history of violent behavior couldn't tolerate his

proximity and reacted with some vehemence. (Hall, Edward T, and

Hall Mildred R. p. 79)

But even these kind of prisoners with a history of violent behavior are

human beings and whenever they feel isolated, they want someone in their

personal space to comfort them.

VII. OCCASIONS REQUIRING FORFEIT OF PERSONAL SPACE

When individuals are in a crowd like at school, a department store, or

a festival, their personal space will reduce because there are too many

people around them. Under such circumstances a person will not look at

other people as being human instead he will dehumanize those around him

to the level of an object so that he will not have to pay attention to his

personal space. When walking in a crowd, such a person will consider other

people as an object like a rock, trash can, mail box, car or something which

has substance. There is no consideration for personal space when people

-12-

look at a person as an object.

VII. CULTURAL ADJUSTMENTS TO PERSONAL SPACE

People tend to be ethnocentric, therefore, they judge people by their

own knowledge. They would say their own behavior is right and another's

is wrong. This will happen when people go to foreign countries, and they

will judge other cultures by comparing with their own culture, even in

personal space they will say our distance is the right size and the others are

wrong. But "there is no 'Right' distance" (Freedman. p. 73).

People need to adjust in a culture which is different from their own. It

is not simple, but it can be done. Mr. Presley said, "It is easier to adapt to

a culture that has a larger distance than yours, however, it is more difficult

to adapt to a culture that has a closer or smaller personal space than your

own because you feel uncomfortable, you feel pressed in that kind of a

situation."

From an educational psychologist's perspective, simply phrased, "the

principle of contiguity states that whenever two sensations occur together

over and over again, they will become associated" (Woolfolk. p. 168).

Through this phrase, it can be said that individuals can adapt to different

concepts of personal space by contiguity even if it is difficult. It will take

a long time to be acculturated, and it may be uncomfortable since one must

tolerate this different behavior over and over. "If you do something in a

given situation, the next time you are in that situation you will tend to do

the same thing again" (Hill. p. 34). Which means you cannot change your

habit at once, even if you comprehend how you should react. It takes a long

time to acquire a foreign behavior. If you step back the first time you will

step back the second time even if you tried your best. To acquire the

different culture it will take a long time. "Rome was not built in a day" nor

can acculturation be done in a day.

-13-

CONCLUSION

A personal space is definitely the space that an individual unconsciously

claims. That space is not only occupied by themselves, but also would be

that person's portable territory. The distance of personal space depends on

one's enculturated background. Furthermore, the way of creating personal

space also depends on an individual's personality. People, shapes and

distance, between animals and humans can be frightening without personal

space. People need personal space when they want strict privacy, to escape

bad odors, and to meet one's psychological condition. Sometimes people

tend to see other people as an object in order to reduce the need for personal

space. To study proxemics it is improtant to investigate other cultural

concepts of space and one should be acculturated, not been ethnocentric.

When people invest a lot of time they can become familiar with different

concepts of personal space. One's personal space is the space in which one

feels comfort and security.

REFERENCES

da Silvia, Sofia. Brazilizn and majored in Business Administration at

Abilence Christian University. 1989.

Fraida Dubin, and Elite Olshtain. Reading by All Means. Massachusetts;

Addison-Welsey Publishing Company, 1990.

Freedman, Honathan L. Crowding and Behavior. New York; The Viking

Press, 1975.

Hall, Edward T. The Didden Dimension. New York; Random House, 1966.

Hall, Edward T. "A System for the Notation of Proxemic Behavior."

American Anthropologist 65 (1963): 1003-26.

-14-

Hall, Edward T. The Silent Language. New York; Fawcett, 1959.

Hall, Edward T, and Hall, Mildred R. "The sounds of Silence" Snnusl

Editions; Anthropology 87 I 88. Connecticut; The Dushkin Publishing

Group, Inc. 1987.

Hickson III, Mark L, and Stacks, Son W. Nonverbal Communication. Iowa;

Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1985.

Hill, W. F. Learning: A survey of psychological interpretations. New York;

Harper and Row. 1985.

Ittelson, William H. Visual Space Perception. New York; Spring Publishing

Company, 1960.

Presley, Ted. Jr·. A Director of International Division and an Anthropolo­

gist at Abilence Christian University, 1990.

Sommer, Robert. Personal Space: The Behavioral Basis of Design. Engl­

ewood Cliffs, N. F.: Prentice-Hall, 1969.

Tubbe, Stewart L. and Moss, Sylvia. Human Communication. New York:

Random House, 1980.

Watson, John B. Behaviorism. Chicago; The University Of Chicago Press,

1967.

Woolfolk, Anita E. Educational Psychology. New Jersey; Perntice-Hall, Inc.

1984.

World Speak: "International Sleuth". Colorado; World Speak Magazine.

July-August, 1987.

-15-