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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
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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.
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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).
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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)
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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
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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).
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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
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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.
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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,
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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)
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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World Speak: "International Sleuth". Colorado; World Speak Magazine.
July-August, 1987.
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